Improved sulfamide linkers for use in bioconjugates

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a novel linker for use in bioconjugates such as antibody-drug-conjugates. The linker according to the invention is represented by formula: (I) wherein: —BM is a branching moiety; —E is a capping group; —SG is a sulfamide group; —b, c, d, e, g, i, k, l are independently 0 or 1; —f is an integer in the range of 1 to 10; —Sp 1 , Sp 2 , Sp 3 , Sp 4 , Sp 5  and Sp 6  are a spacer moieties; —Z and Z 2  are connecting groups. The linker according to the invention is useful in the preparation of linker-conjugates and bioconjugates, and can be used for (a) improving conjugation efficiency in the preparation of the bioconjugate, (b) reducing aggregation during the preparation of the bioconjugate and/or of the bioconjugate, (c) increasing stability of the bioconjugate, and/or (d) increasing therapeutic index of the bioconjugate.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is in the field of bioconjugation. The invention relates to novel sulfamide linkers and conjugates thereof, and to methods for the preparation thereof. More particularly, the invention relates to linkers comprising an acylsulfamide group and/or a carbamoyl sulfamide group and to conjugates comprising said linkers. The invention further relates to a process for the preparation of bioconjugates comprising a linker, the linker comprising an acylsulfamide group and/or a carbamoyl sulfamide group.

BACKGROUND

Bioconjugation is the process of linking two or more molecules, of which at least one is a biomolecule. The biomolecule(s) may also be referred to as “biomolecule(s) of interest”, the other molecule(s) may also be referred to as “target molecule” or “molecule of interest”. Typically the biomolecule of interest (BOI) will consist of a protein (or peptide), a glycan, a nucleic acid (or oligonucleotide), a lipid, a hormone or a natural drug (or fragments or combinations thereof). The other molecule of interest (MOI) may also be a biomolecule, hence leading to the formation of homo- or heterodimers (or higher oligomers), or the other molecule may possess specific features that are imparted onto the biomolecule of interest by the conjugation process. For example, the modulation of protein structure and function by covalent modification with a chemical probe for detection and/or isolation has evolved as a powerful tool in proteome-based research and biomedical applications. Fluorescent or affinity tagging of proteins is key to studying the trafficking of proteins in their native habitat. Vaccines based on protein-carbohydrate conjugates have gained prominence in the fight against HIV, cancer, malaria and pathogenic bacteria, whereas carbohydrates immobilized on microarrays are instrumental in elucidation of the glycome. Synthetic DNA and RNA oligonucleotides (ONs) require the introduction of a suitable functionality for diagnostic and therapeutic applications, such as microarray technology, antisense and gene-silencing therapies, nanotechnology and various materials sciences applications. For example, attachment of a cell-penetrating ligand is the most commonly applied strategy to tackle the low internalization rate of ONs encountered during oligonucleotide-based therapeutics (antisense, siRNA). Similarly, the preparation of oligonucleotide-based microarrays requires the selective immobilization of ONs on a suitable solid surface, e.g. glass.

There are numerous examples of chemical reactions suitable to covalently link two (or more) molecular structures. However, labelling of biomolecules poses high restrictions on the reaction conditions that can be applied (solvent, concentration, temperature), while the desire of chemoselective labelling limits the choice of reactive groups. For obvious reasons, biological systems generally flourish best in an aqueous environment meaning that reagents for bioconjugation should be suitable for application in aqueous systems. In general, two strategic concepts can be recognized in the field of bioconjugation technology: (a) conjugation based on a functional group already present in the biomolecule of interest, such as for example a thiol, an amine, an alcohol or a hydroxyphenol unit or (b) a two-stage process involving engineering of one (or more) unique reactive groups into a BOI prior to the actual conjugation process.

The first approach typically involves a reactive amino acid side-chain in a protein (e.g. cysteine, lysine, serine and tyrosine), or a functional group in a glycan (e.g. amine, aldehyde) or nucleic acid (e.g. purine or pyrimidine functionality or alcohol). As summarized inter alia in G. T. Hermanson, “Bioconjugate Techniques”, Elsevier, 3^(rd) Ed. 2013, incorporated by reference, a large number of reactive functional groups have become available over the years for chemoselective targeting of one of these functional groups, such as maleimide, haloacetamide, activated ester, activated carbonate, sulfonyl halide, activated thiol derivative, alkene, alkyne, allenamide and more, each of which requiring its own specific conditions for conjugation (pH, concentration, stoichiometry, light, etc.). Most prominently, cysteine-maleimide conjugation stands out for protein conjugation by virtue of its high reaction rate and chemoselectivity. However, when no cysteine is available for conjugation, as in many proteins and certainly in other biomolecules, other methods are often required, each suffering from its own shortcomings.

An elegant and broadly applicable solution for bioconjugation involves the two-stage approach. Although more laborious, two-stage conjugation via engineered functionality typically leads to higher selectivity (site-specificity) than conjugation on a natural functionality. Besides that, full stability can be achieved by proper choice of construct, which can be an important shortcoming of one stage conjugation on native functionality, in particular for cysteine-maleimide conjugation. Typical examples of a functional group that may be imparted onto the BOI include (strained) alkyne, (strained) alkene, norbornene, tetrazine, azide, phosphine, nitrile oxide, nitrone, nitrile imine, diazo compound, carbonyl compound, (O-alkyl)hydroxylamine and hydrazine, which may be achieved by either chemical or molecular biology approach. Each of the above functional groups is known to have at least one reaction partner, in many cases involving complete mutual reactivity. For example, cyclooctynes react selectively and exclusively with 1,3-dipoles, strained alkenes with tetrazines and phosphines with azides, leading to fully stable covalent bonds. However, some of the above functional groups have the disadvantage of being highly lipophilic, which may compromise conjugation efficiency, in particular in combination with a lipophilic molecule of interest (see below).

The final linking unit between the biomolecule and the other molecule of interest should preferentially also be fully compatible with an aqueous environment in terms of solubility, stability and biocompatibility. For example, a highly lipophilic linker may lead to aggregation (during and/or after conjugation), which may significantly increase reaction times and/or reduce conjugation yields, in particular when the MOI is also of hydrophobic nature. Similarly, highly lipophilic linker-MOI combination may lead to unspecific binding to surfaces or specific hydrophobic patches on the same or other biomolecules. If the linker is susceptible to aqueous hydrolysis or other water-induced cleavage reactions, the components comprising the original bioconjugate separate by diffusion. For example, certain ester moieties are not suitable due to saponification while 3-hydroxycarbonyl or γ-dicarbonyl compounds could lead to retro-aldol or retro-Michael reaction, respectively. Finally, the linker should be inert to functionalities present in the bioconjugate or any other functionality that may be encountered during application of the bioconjugate, which excludes, amongst others, the use of linkers featuring for example a ketone or aldehyde moiety (may lead to imine formation), an α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compound (Michael addition), thioesters or other activated esters (amide bond formation).

Compounds made of linear oligomers of ethylene glycol, so-called polyethylene glycol (PEG) linkers, enjoy particular popularity nowadays in biomolecular conjugation processes. PEG linkers are highly water soluble, non-toxic, non-antigenic, and lead to negligible or no aggregation. For this reason, a large variety of linear, bifunctional PEG linkers are commercially available from various sources, which can be selectively modified at either end with a (bio)molecule of interest. PEG linkers are the product of a polymerization process of ethylene oxide and are therefore typically obtained as stochastic mixtures of chain length, which can be partly resolved into PEG constructs with an average weight distribution centered around 1, 2, 4 kDa or more (up to 60 kDa). Homogeneous, discrete PEGs (dPEGs) are also known with molecular weights up to 4 kDa and branched versions thereof go up to 15 kDa. Interestingly, the PEG unit itself imparts particular characteristics onto a biomolecule. In particular, protein PEGylation may lead to prolonged residence in vivo, decreased degradation by metabolic enzymes and a reduction or elimination of protein immunogenicity. Several PEGylated proteins have been FDA-approved and are currently on the market.

By virtue of their polarity, PEG linkers are suitable for bioconjugation of small and/or water-soluble moieties under aqueous conditions. However, in case of conjugation of hydrophobic, water-insoluble molecules of interest, the polarity of a PEG unit may be insufficient to offset hydrophobicity, leading to significantly reduced reaction rates, lower yields and induced aggregation issues. In such case, lengthy PEG linkers and/or significant amounts of organic co-solvents may be required to solubilize the reagents. For example, in the field of antibody-drug conjugates, the controlled attachment of a distinct number of toxic payloads to a monoclonal antibody is key, with a payload typically selected from the group of auristatins, maytansinoids, duocarmycins, enediynes or pyrrolobenzodiazepines (PBDs), with many others are underway. With the exception of auristatin F, all toxic payloads are poorly soluble or water-insoluble, which necessitates organic co-solvents to achieve successful conjugation, such as 25% N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMA) or dimethylformamide (DMF) or up to 50% propylene glycol (PG). In case of hydrophobic payloads, despite the use of aforementioned co-solvents, large stoichiometries of reagents may be required during conjugation while efficiency and yield may be significantly compromised due to aggregation (in process or after product isolation), as for example described by Senter et al. in Nat. Biotechn. 2014, 24, 1256-1263, incorporated by reference. The use of long PEG spacers (12 units or more) may partially enhance solubility and/or conjugation efficiency, but it has been shown that long PEG spacers may lead to more rapid in vivo clearance, and hence negatively influence the pharmacokinetic profile of the ADC.

Using conventional linkers (e.g. PEG), effective conjugation is often hampered by the relatively low solubility of the linker-conjugate in aqueous media, especially when a relative water-insoluble or hydrophobic target molecule is used. In their quest for a short, polar spacer that enables fast and efficient conjugation of hydrophobic moieties, the inventors have developed the sulfamide linker, which was found to improve the solubility of the linker-conjugate, which in turn significantly improves the efficiency of the conjugation and reduces both in process and product aggregation. This is disclosed in patent application PCT/NL2015/050697 (WO 2016/053107), which is incorporated herein in its entirety.

Further linkers are known in the art, and disclosed in e.g. WO 2008/070291, incorporated by reference. WO 2008/070291 discloses a linker for the coupling of targeting agents to anchoring components. The linker contains hydrophilic regions represented by polyethylene glycol (PEG) and an extension lacking chiral centers that is coupled to a targeting agent.

WO 01/88535, incorporated by reference, discloses a linker system for surfaces for bioconjugation, in particular a linker system having a novel hydrophilic spacer group. The hydrophilic atoms or groups for use in the linker system are selected from the group consisting of O, NH, C═O (keto group), O—C═O (ester group) and CR³R⁴, wherein R³ and R⁴ are independently selected from the group consisting of H, OH, C₁-C₄ alkoxy and C₁-C₄ acyloxy.

WO 2014/100762, incorporated by reference, describes compounds with a hydrophilic self-immolative linker, which is cleavable under appropriate conditions and incorporates a hydrophilic group to provide better solubility of the compound. The compounds comprise a drug moiety, a targeting moiety capable of targeting a selected cell population, and a linker which contains an acyl unit, an optional spacer unit for providing distance between the drug moiety and the targeting moiety, a peptide linker which can be cleavable under appropriate conditions, a hydrophilic self-immolative linker, and an optional second self-immolative spacer or cyclization self-elimination linker. The hydrophilic self-immolative linker is e.g. a benzyloxycarbonyl group.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an improved linker that can be used in the field of bioconjugation. The sulfamide linker that has been developed by the inventors has been put to practice in the following aspects of the invention.

In a first aspect, the invention concerns a linker-conjugate as defined herein, comprising the linker according to the invention, as well as the use of said linker-conjugate for preparing a bioconjugate according to the invention. In a second aspect, the invention concerns a linker-construct as defined herein, comprising the linker according to the invention, as well as the use of said linker-construct for preparing a linker-conjugate according to the invention and a process for preparing the linker-conjugate according to the invention using said linker-construct. In a third aspect, the invention concerns a bioconjugate as defined herein, comprising the linker according to the invention. In a fourth aspect, the invention concerns a process for preparing the bioconjugate according to the invention and the bioconjugate obtainable thereby. In a fifth aspect, the invention concerns the use of the linker according to the invention in bioconjugation for improving conjugation efficiency, reducing aggregation, increasing stability and increasing therapeutic index. In a sixth aspect, the invention concerns the medical use of the bioconjugate according to the invention, in particular for the treatment of cancer.

The linker-conjugate according to the invention as a compound wherein a target molecule D is covalently connected to a reactive group Q¹, via a linker, wherein the linker is represented by formula:

wherein:

-   -   BM is a branching moiety;     -   E is a capping group;     -   SG is a sulfamide group according to formula (1);     -   b is independently 0 or 1;     -   c is 0 or 1;     -   d is 0 or 1;     -   e is 0 or 1;     -   f is an integer in the range of 1 to 10;     -   g is 0 or 1;     -   i is 0 or 1;     -   k is 0 or 1;     -   l is 0 or 1;     -   Sp¹ is a spacer moiety;     -   Sp² is a spacer moiety;     -   Sp³ is a spacer moiety;     -   Sp⁴ is a spacer moiety;     -   Sp⁵ is a spacer moiety;     -   Sp⁶ is a spacer moiety;     -   Z¹ is a connecting group;     -   Z² is a connecting group,

wherein one of the bonds labelled with * is connected to reactive group Q¹ and one of the bonds labelled with * is connected to target molecule D, and wherein the sulfamide group SG is represented by formula (1):

wherein

-   -   a is 0 or 1; and     -   R¹ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C₁-C₂₄         alkyl groups, C₃-C₂₄ cycloalkyl groups, C₂-C₂₄ (hetero)aryl         groups, C₃-C₂₄ alkyl(hetero)aryl groups and C₃-C₂₄         (hetero)arylalkyl groups, wherein the C₁-C₂₄ alkyl groups,         C₃-C₂₄ cycloalkyl groups, C₂-C₂₄ (hetero)aryl groups, C₃-C₂₄         alkyl(hetero)aryl groups and C₃-C₂₄ (hetero)arylalkyl groups are         optionally substituted and optionally interrupted by one or more         heteroatoms selected from O, S and NR³ wherein R³ is         independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and         C₁-C₄ alkyl groups, or R¹ is a further target molecule D,         wherein the target molecule is optionally connected to N via a         spacer moiety,

and wherein one of the bonds labelled with * is connected to the branching moiety, optionally via spacer Sp⁵, and the other bond labelled with * to a capping group E, optionally via spacer Sp⁶. The bioconjugate according to the invention is a compound wherein a target molecule D is covalently connected to a biomolecule B, via a linker, wherein the linker is represented by formula:

wherein:

-   -   BM is a branching moiety;     -   E is a capping group;     -   SG is a sulfamide group according to formula (1);     -   b is independently 0 or 1;     -   c is 0 or 1;     -   d is 0 or 1;     -   e is 0 or 1;     -   f is an integer in the range of 1 to 10;     -   g is 0 or 1;     -   i is 0 or 1;     -   k is 0 or 1;     -   l is 0 or 1;     -   Sp¹ is a spacer moiety;     -   Sp² is a spacer moiety;     -   Sp³ is a spacer moiety;     -   Sp⁴ is a spacer moiety;     -   Sp⁵ is a spacer moiety;     -   Sp⁶ is a spacer moiety;     -   Z¹ is a connecting group;     -   Z² is a connecting group,

wherein one of the bonds labelled with * is connected to biomolecule B and one of the bonds labelled with * is connected to target molecule D, and wherein the sulfamide group SG is represented by formula (1):

wherein

-   -   a is 0 or 1; and     -   R¹ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C₁-C₂₄         alkyl groups, C₃-C₂₄ cycloalkyl groups, C₂-C₂₄ (hetero)aryl         groups, C₃-C₂₄ alkyl(hetero)aryl groups and C₃-C₂₄         (hetero)arylalkyl groups, wherein the C₁-C₂₄ alkyl groups,         C₃-C₂₄ cycloalkyl groups, C₂-C₂₄ (hetero)aryl groups, C₃-C₂₄         alkyl(hetero)aryl groups and C₃-C₂₄ (hetero)arylalkyl groups are         optionally substituted and optionally interrupted by one or more         heteroatoms selected from O, S and NR³ wherein R³ is         independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and         C₁-C₄ alkyl groups, or R¹ is a further target molecule D,         wherein the target molecule is optionally connected to N via a         spacer moiety,

and wherein one of the bonds labelled with * is connected to the branching moiety, optionally via spacer Sp⁵, and the other bond labelled with * to a capping group E, optionally via spacer Sp⁶. The invention further concerns a process for the preparation of a bioconjugate, comprising reacting a reactive group Q¹ of the compound according to any one of claims 1-6 with a functional group F¹ of a biomolecule (B).

The invention further concerns the use of the linker-conjugate according to the invention for the preparation of a bioconjugate.

The invention further concerns the use of a linker represented by formula:

wherein:

-   -   BM is a branching moiety;     -   E is a capping group;     -   SG is a sulfamide group according to formula (1);     -   b is independently 0 or 1;     -   c is 0 or 1;     -   d is 0 or 1;     -   e is 0 or 1;     -   f is an integer in the range of 1 to 10;     -   g is 0 or 1;     -   i is 0 or 1;     -   k is 0 or 1;     -   l is 0 or 1;     -   Sp¹ is a spacer moiety;     -   Sp² is a spacer moiety;     -   Sp³ is a spacer moiety;     -   Sp⁴ is a spacer moiety;     -   Sp⁵ is a spacer moiety;     -   Sp⁶ is a spacer moiety;     -   Z¹ is a connecting group;     -   Z² is a connecting group,

wherein one of the bonds labelled with * is connected to biomolecule B and one of the bonds labelled with * is connected to target molecule D, and wherein the sulfamide group SG is represented by formula (1):

wherein

-   -   a is 0 or 1; and     -   R¹ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C₁-C₂₄         alkyl groups, C₃-C₂₄ cycloalkyl groups, C₂-C₂₄ (hetero)aryl         groups, C₃-C₂₄ alkyl(hetero)aryl groups and C₃-C₂₄         (hetero)arylalkyl groups, wherein the C₁-C₂₄ alkyl groups,         C₃-C₂₄ cycloalkyl groups, C₂-C₂₄ (hetero)aryl groups, C₃-C₂₄         alkyl(hetero)aryl groups and C₃-C₂₄ (hetero)arylalkyl groups are         optionally substituted and optionally interrupted by one or more         heteroatoms selected from O, S and NR³ wherein R³ is         independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and         C₁-C₄ alkyl groups, or R¹ is a further target molecule D,         wherein the target molecule is optionally connected to N via a         spacer moiety,

and wherein one of the bonds labelled with * is connected to the branching moiety, optionally via spacer Sp⁵, and the other bond labelled with * to a capping group E, optionally via spacer Sp⁶, in a bioconjugate for:

-   -   (a) improving conjugation efficiency in the preparation of the         bioconjugate,     -   (b) reducing aggregation during the preparation of the         bioconjugate and/or of the bioconjugate,     -   (c) increasing stability of the bioconjugate, and/or     -   (d) increasing therapeutic index of the bioconjugate.

The invention further concerns the bioconjugate according to the invention for use in the treatment of a subject in need thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 describes the general concept of conjugation of biomolecules: a biomolecule of interest (BOI) containing one or more functional groups F¹ is incubated with (excess of) a target molecule D (also referred to as molecule of interest or MOI) covalently attached to a reactive group Q¹ via a specific linker. In the process of bioconjugation, a chemical reaction between F¹ and Q¹ takes place, thereby forming a bioconjugate comprising a covalent connection between the BOI and the MOI. The BOI may e.g. be a peptide/protein, a glycan or a nucleic acid.

FIG. 2 shows several structures of derivatives of UDP sugars of galactosamine, which may be modified with e.g. a 3-mercaptopropionyl group (11a), an azidoacetyl group (11b), or an azidodifluoroacetyl group (11c) at the 2-position, or with an azido group at the 6-position of N-acetyl galactosamine (11d).

FIG. 3 schematically displays how any of the UDP-sugars 11a-d may be attached to a glycoprotein comprising a GlcNAc moiety 12 (e.g. a monoclonal antibody the glycan of which is trimmed by an endoglycosidase) under the action of a galactosyltransferase mutant or a GalNAc-transferase, thereby generating a 3-glycosidic 1-4 linkage between a GalNAc derivative and GlcNAc (compounds 13a-d, respectively).

FIG. 4 shows how a modified antibody 13a-d may undergo a bioconjugation process by means of nucleophilic addition to maleimide (as for 3-mercaptopropionyl-galactosamine-modified 13a leading to thioether conjugate 14, or for conjugation to a engineered cysteine residue leading to thioether conjugate 17) or upon strain-promoted cycloaddition with a cyclooctyne reagent (as for 13b, 13c or 13d leading to triazoles 15a, 15b or 16, respectively).

FIG. 5 depicts the general structure of the linker-construct (FIG. 5A), the linker-conjugate (FIG. 5B) and the bioconjugate (FIG. 5C) according to the invention. Herein, B refers to biomolecule, D refers to target molecule, SG refers to sulfamide group, E refers to capping moiety, BM refers to branching moiety and Q¹ and Q² are reactive groups.

FIG. 6 shows a representative set of functional groups (F¹) in a biomolecule, either naturally present or introduced by engineering, which upon reaction with reactive group Q¹ lead to connecting group Z³. Functional group F¹ may also be artificially introduced (engineered) into a biomolecule at any position of choice. The same functional groups and reactive moieties are suitably used as F² and Q², respectively. Connecting group Z³ may also be the result of a reaction between F² and Q².

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to an improved linker that can be used in the field of bioconjugation. The sulfamide linker that has been developed by the inventors has been put to practice in the following aspects of the invention.

In a first aspect, the invention concerns a linker-conjugate as defined herein, comprising the linker according to the invention, as well as the use of said linker-conjugate for preparing a bioconjugate according to the invention. In a second aspect, the invention concerns a linker-construct as defined herein, comprising the linker according to the invention, as well as the use of said linker-construct for preparing a linker-conjugate according to the invention and a process for preparing the linker-conjugate according to the invention using said linker-construct. In a third aspect, the invention concerns a bioconjugate as defined herein, comprising the linker according to the invention. In a fourth aspect, the invention concerns a process for preparing the bioconjugate according to the invention and the bioconjugate obtainable thereby. In a fifth aspect, the invention concerns the use of the linker according to the invention in bioconjugation for improving conjugation efficiency, reducing aggregation, increasing stability and increasing therapeutic index. In a sixth aspect, the invention concerns the medical use of the bioconjugate according to the invention, in particular for the treatment of cancer.

Key to all of the above aspects to the invention is the linker according to the invention, which comprises a branching moiety BM in the main chain of the linker and a sulfamide group SG in the side chain of the linker. Herein, “main chain” refers to the chain of atoms that connects target molecule D (or Q¹) with biomolecule B (or Q²). The branching moiety is located in the main chain. The “side chain” refers to the chain of atoms that connects branching moiety BM to capping group E, also referred to as the “branch”. The linker according to the invention is further defined below. The inventors surprisingly found that using a sulfamide group within the side chain (branch), in the configuration according to the present invention, provides many advantages when preparing and using bioconjugates such as antibody-drug-conjugates.

First and foremost, all the advantages associated with sulfamide groups embedded in the chain of a linker, i.e. biomolecule B or reactive group Q¹ is connected to one end of the sulfamide group and target molecule D or reactive group Q² is connected to the other end of the sulfamide group, also hold for the present configuration, wherein the sulfamide moiety is not located in the chain between target molecule and biomolecule, but located in a branch of the chain. The advantages in terms of conjugation efficiency and reduced aggregation are described in PCT/NL2015/020697, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Using conventional linkers (e.g. PEG), effective conjugation is often hampered by the relatively low solubility of the linker-conjugate in aqueous media, especially when a relative water-insoluble or hydrophobic target molecule is used. In their quest for a short, polar spacer that enables fast and efficient conjugation of hydrophobic moieties, the inventors have developed the sulfamide linker, which was found to improve the solubility of the linker-conjugate, which in turn significantly improves the efficacy efficiency of the conjugation and reduces aggregation both in process and product. The inventors found that the sulfamide linkers according to the present invention are capable of (a) improving conjugation efficiency in the preparation of the bioconjugate, (b) reducing aggregation during the preparation of the bioconjugate and/or of the bioconjugate, (c) increasing stability of the bioconjugate, and/or (d) increasing therapeutic index of the bioconjugate.

The inventors further found that the bioconjugates according to the present invention, thus comprising the branched sulfamide linker according to the present invention, exhibited a greater therapeutic efficacy compared to the same bioconjugate, i.e. the same biomolecule, the same active substance (drug) and the same biomolecule drug ratio, containing a linker not according to the present invention. That the structure of the linker could have an effect on the therapeutic efficacy of a bioconjugate, such as an antibody-drug-conjugate, could not be envisioned based on the current knowledge. In the field, linkers are considered inert when it comes to treatment and are solely present as a consequence of the preparation of the bioconjugate. That a specific structural element within a linker has an effect on the therapeutic efficacy is unprecedented in the art and a breakthrough discovery in the field of bioconjugates, in particular antibody-drug-conjugates. The bioconjugates according to the invention are thus more therapeutically effective as the same bioconjugates, i.e. the same biomolecule, the same active substance (drug) and the same biomolecule drug ratio, containing a different linker. This finding has dramatic implications on the treatment of subjects with the bioconjugate according to the invention, as treatment doses may be lowered and as a consequence potential, unwanted, side-effects are reduced. Alternatively, as a result of the increased tolerability of the bioconjugate (i.e. increased stability and low aggregation potential) according to the invention, treatment doses might be increased without the potential increase in unwanted side-effects.

Definitions

The verb “to comprise”, and its conjugations, as used in this description and in the claims is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. In addition, reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there is one and only one of the elements. The indefinite article “a” or “an” thus usually means “at least one”. The compounds disclosed in this description and in the claims may comprise one or more asymmetric centres, and different diastereomers and/or enantiomers may exist of the compounds. The description of any compound in this description and in the claims is meant to include all diastereomers, and mixtures thereof, unless stated otherwise. In addition, the description of any compound in this description and in the claims is meant to include both the individual enantiomers, as well as any mixture, racemic or otherwise, of the enantiomers, unless stated otherwise. When the structure of a compound is depicted as a specific enantiomer, it is to be understood that the invention of the present application is not limited to that specific enantiomer.

The compounds may occur in different tautomeric forms. The compounds according to the invention are meant to include all tautomeric forms, unless stated otherwise. When the structure of a compound is depicted as a specific tautomer, it is to be understood that the invention of the present application is not limited to that specific tautomer.

The compounds disclosed in this description and in the claims may further exist as exo and endo diastereoisomers. Unless stated otherwise, the description of any compound in the description and in the claims is meant to include both the individual exo and the individual endo diastereoisomers of a compound, as well as mixtures thereof. When the structure of a compound is depicted as a specific endo or exo diastereomer, it is to be understood that the invention of the present application is not limited to that specific endo or exo diastereomer.

Furthermore, the compounds disclosed in this description and in the claims may exist as cis and trans isomers. Unless stated otherwise, the description of any compound in the description and in the claims is meant to include both the individual cis and the individual trans isomer of a compound, as well as mixtures thereof. As an example, when the structure of a compound is depicted as a cis isomer, it is to be understood that the corresponding trans isomer or mixtures of the cis and trans isomer are not excluded from the invention of the present application. When the structure of a compound is depicted as a specific cis or trans isomer, it is to be understood that the invention of the present application is not limited to that specific cis or trans isomer.

The compounds according to the invention may exist in salt form, which are also covered by the present invention. The salt is typically a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, containing a pharmaceutically acceptable anion. The term “salt thereof” means a compound formed when an acidic proton, typically a proton of an acid, is replaced by a cation, such as a metal cation or an organic cation and the like. Where applicable, the salt is a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, although this is not required for salts that are not intended for administration to a patient. For example, in a salt of a compound the compound may be protonated by an inorganic or organic acid to form a cation, with the conjugate base of the inorganic or organic acid as the anionic component of the salt.

The term “pharmaceutically accepted” salt means a salt that is acceptable for administration to a patient, such as a mammal (salts with counter ions having acceptable mammalian safety for a given dosage regime). Such salts may be derived from pharmaceutically acceptable inorganic or organic bases and from pharmaceutically acceptable inorganic or organic acids. “Pharmaceutically acceptable salt” refers to pharmaceutically acceptable salts of a compound, which salts are derived from a variety of organic and inorganic counter ions known in the art and include, for example, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, ammonium, tetraalkylammonium, etc., and when the molecule contains a basic functionality, salts of organic or inorganic acids, such as hydrochloride, hydrobromide, formate, tartrate, besylate, mesylate, acetate, maleate, oxalate, etc.

Unsubstituted alkyl groups have the general formula C_(n)H_(2n+1) and may be linear or branched. Optionally, the alkyl groups are substituted by one or more substituents further specified in this document. Examples of alkyl groups include methyl, ethyl, propyl, 2-propyl, t-butyl, 1-hexyl, 1-dodecyl, etc.

A cycloalkyl group is a cyclic alkyl group. Unsubstituted cycloalkyl groups comprise at least three carbon atoms and have the general formula C_(n)H_(2n-1). Optionally, the cycloalkyl groups are substituted by one or more substituents further specified in this document. Examples of cycloalkyl groups include cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl and cyclohexyl.

An alkenyl group comprises one or more carbon-carbon double bonds, and may be linear or branched. Unsubstituted alkenyl groups comprising one C—C double bond have the general formula C_(n)H_(2n-1). Unsubstituted alkenyl groups comprising two C—C double bonds have the general formula C_(n)H_(2n-3). An alkenyl group may comprise a terminal carbon-carbon double bond and/or an internal carbon-carbon double bond. A terminal alkenyl group is an alkenyl group wherein a carbon-carbon double bond is located at a terminal position of a carbon chain. An alkenyl group may also comprise two or more carbon-carbon double bonds. Examples of an alkenyl group include ethenyl, propenyl, isopropenyl, t-butenyl, 1,3-butadienyl, 1,3-pentadienyl, etc. Unless stated otherwise, an alkenyl group may optionally be substituted with one or more, independently selected, substituents as defined below. Unless stated otherwise, an alkenyl group may optionally be interrupted by one or more heteroatoms independently selected from the group consisting of O, N and S.

An alkynyl group comprises one or more carbon-carbon triple bonds, and may be linear or branched. Unsubstituted alkynyl groups comprising one C—C triple bond have the general formula C_(n)H_(2n-3). An alkynyl group may comprise a terminal carbon-carbon triple bond and/or an internal carbon-carbon triple bond. A terminal alkynyl group is an alkynyl group wherein a carbon-carbon triple bond is located at a terminal position of a carbon chain. An alkynyl group may also comprise two or more carbon-carbon triple bonds. Unless stated otherwise, an alkynyl group may optionally be substituted with one or more, independently selected, substituents as defined below. Examples of an alkynyl group include ethynyl, propynyl, isopropynyl, t-butynyl, etc. Unless stated otherwise, an alkynyl group may optionally be interrupted by one or more heteroatoms independently selected from the group consisting of O, N and S.

An aryl group comprises six to twelve carbon atoms and may include monocyclic and bicyclic structures. Optionally, the aryl group may be substituted by one or more substituents further specified in this document. Examples of aryl groups are phenyl and naphthyl.

Arylalkyl groups and alkylaryl groups comprise at least seven carbon atoms and may include monocyclic and bicyclic structures. Optionally, the arylalkyl groups and alkylaryl may be substituted by one or more substituents further specified in this document. An arylalkyl group is for example benzyl. An alkylaryl group is for example 4-t-butylphenyl.

Heteroaryl groups comprise at least two carbon atoms (i.e. at least C₂) and one or more heteroatoms N, O, P or S. A heteroaryl group may have a monocyclic or a bicyclic structure. Optionally, the heteroaryl group may be substituted by one or more substituents further specified in this document. Examples of suitable heteroaryl groups include pyridinyl, quinolinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, pyrazolyl, imidazolyl, thiazolyl, pyrrolyl, furanyl, triazolyl, benzofuranyl, indolyl, purinyl, benzoxazolyl, thienyl, phospholyl and oxazolyl.

Heteroarylalkyl groups and alkylheteroaryl groups comprise at least three carbon atoms (i.e. at least C₃) and may include monocyclic and bicyclic structures. Optionally, the heteroaryl groups may be substituted by one or more substituents further specified in this document.

Where an aryl group is denoted as a (hetero)aryl group, the notation is meant to include an aryl group and a heteroaryl group. Similarly, an alkyl(hetero)aryl group is meant to include an alkylaryl group and a alkylheteroaryl group, and (hetero)arylalkyl is meant to include an arylalkyl group and a heteroarylalkyl group. A C₂-C₂₄ (hetero)aryl group is thus to be interpreted as including a C₂-C₂₄ heteroaryl group and a C₆-C₂₄ aryl group. Similarly, a C₃-C₂₄ alkyl(hetero)aryl group is meant to include a C₇-C₂₄ alkylaryl group and a C₃-C₂₄ alkylheteroaryl group, and a C₃-C₂₄ (hetero)arylalkyl is meant to include a C₇-C₂₄ arylalkyl group and a C₃-C₂₄ heteroarylalkyl group.

A cycloalkynyl group is a cyclic alkynyl group. An unsubstituted cycloalkynyl group comprising one triple bond has the general formula C_(n)H_(2n-5). Optionally, a cycloalkynyl group is substituted by one or more substituents further specified in this document. An example of a cycloalkynyl group is cyclooctynyl.

A heterocycloalkynyl group is a cycloalkynyl group interrupted by heteroatoms selected from the group of oxygen, nitrogen and sulphur. Optionally, a heterocycloalkynyl group is substituted by one or more substituents further specified in this document. An example of a heterocycloalkynyl group is azacyclooctynyl.

A (hetero)aryl group comprises an aryl group and a heteroaryl group. An alkyl(hetero)aryl group comprises an alkylaryl group and an alkylheteroaryl group. A (hetero)arylalkyl group comprises a arylalkyl group and a heteroarylalkyl groups. A (hetero)alkynyl group comprises an alkynyl group and a heteroalkynyl group. A (hetero)cycloalkynyl group comprises an cycloalkynyl group and a heterocycloalkynyl group.

A (hetero)cycloalkyne compound is herein defined as a compound comprising a (hetero)cycloalkynyl group.

Several of the compounds disclosed in this description and in the claims may be described as fused (hetero)cycloalkyne compounds, i.e. (hetero)cycloalkyne compounds wherein a second ring structure is fused, i.e. annulated, to the (hetero)cycloalkynyl group. For example in a fused (hetero)cyclooctyne compound, a cycloalkyl (e.g. a cyclopropyl) or an arene (e.g. benzene) may be annulated to the (hetero)cyclooctynyl group. The triple bond of the (hetero)cyclooctynyl group in a fused (hetero)cyclooctyne compound may be located on either one of the three possible locations, i.e. on the 2, 3 or 4 position of the cyclooctyne moiety (numbering according to “IUPAC Nomenclature of Organic Chemistry”, Rule A31.2). The description of any fused (hetero)cyclooctyne compound in this description and in the claims is meant to include all three individual regioisomers of the cyclooctyne moiety.

Unless stated otherwise, alkyl groups, cycloalkyl groups, alkenyl groups, alkynyl groups, (hetero)aryl groups, (hetero)arylalkyl groups, alkyl(hetero)aryl groups, alkylene groups, alkenylene groups, alkynylene groups, cycloalkylene groups, cycloalkenylene groups, cycloalkynylene groups, (hetero)arylene groups, alkyl(hetero)arylene groups, (hetero)arylalkylene groups, (hetero)arylalkenylene groups, (hetero)arylalkynylene groups, alkenyl groups, alkoxy groups, alkenyloxy groups, (hetero)aryloxy groups, alkynyloxy groups and cycloalkyloxy groups may be substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from the group consisting of C₁-C₁₂ alkyl groups, C₂-C₁₂ alkenyl groups, C₂-C₁₂ alkynyl groups, C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl groups, C₅-C₁₂ cycloalkenyl groups, C₆-C₁₂ cycloalkynyl groups, C₁-C₁₂ alkoxy groups, C₂-C₁₂ alkenyloxy groups, C₂-C₁₂ alkynyloxy groups, C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyloxy groups, halogens, amino groups, oxo and silyl groups, wherein the silyl groups can be represented by the formula (R²⁰)₃Si—, wherein R²⁰ is independently selected from the group consisting of C₁-C₁₂ alkyl groups, C₂-C₁₂ alkenyl groups, C₂-C₁₂ alkynyl groups, C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl groups, C₁-C₁₂ alkoxy groups, C₂-C₁₂ alkenyloxy groups, C₂-C₁₂ alkynyloxy groups and C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyloxy groups, wherein the alkyl groups, alkenyl groups, alkynyl groups, cycloalkyl groups, alkoxy groups, alkenyloxy groups, alkynyloxy groups and cycloalkyloxy groups are optionally substituted, the alkyl groups, the alkoxy groups, the cycloalkyl groups and the cycloalkoxy groups being optionally interrupted by one of more hetero-atoms selected from the group consisting of O, N and S.

The general term “sugar” is herein used to indicate a monosaccharide, for example glucose (Glc), galactose (Gal), mannose (Man) and fucose (Fuc). The term “sugar derivative” is herein used to indicate a derivative of a monosaccharide sugar, i.e. a monosaccharide sugar comprising substituents and/or functional groups. Examples of a sugar derivative include amino sugars and sugar acids, e.g. glucosamine (GlcNH₂), galactosamine (GalNH₂)N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc), N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc), sialic acid (Sia) which is also referred to as N-acetylneuraminic acid (NeuNAc), and N-acetylmuramic acid (MurNAc), glucuronic acid (GlcA) and iduronic acid (IdoA).

The term “nucleotide” is herein used in its normal scientific meaning. The term “nucleotide” refers to a molecule that is composed of a nucleobase, a five-carbon sugar (either ribose or 2-deoxyribose), and one, two or three phosphate groups. Without the phosphate group, the nucleobase and sugar compose a nucleoside. A nucleotide can thus also be called a nucleoside monophosphate, a nucleoside diphosphate or a nucleoside triphosphate. The nucleobase may be adenine, guanine, cytosine, uracil or thymine. Examples of a nucleotide include uridine diphosphate (UDP), guanosine diphosphate (GDP), thymidine diphosphate (TDP), cytidine diphosphate (CDP) and cytidine monophosphate (CMP).

The term “protein” is herein used in its normal scientific meaning. Herein, polypeptides comprising about 10 or more amino acids are considered proteins. A protein may comprise natural, but also unnatural amino acids.

The term “glycoprotein” is herein used in its normal scientific meaning and refers to a protein comprising one or more monosaccharide or oligosaccharide chains (“glycans”) covalently bonded to the protein. A glycan may be attached to a hydroxyl group on the protein (O-linked-glycan), e.g. to the hydroxyl group of serine, threonine, tyrosine, hydroxylysine or hydroxyproline, or to an amide function on the protein (N-glycoprotein), e.g. asparagine or arginine, or to a carbon on the protein (C-glycoprotein), e.g. tryptophan. A glycoprotein may comprise more than one glycan, may comprise a combination of one or more monosaccharide and one or more oligosaccharide glycans, and may comprise a combination of N-linked, O-linked and C-linked glycans. It is estimated that more than 50% of all proteins have some form of glycosylation and therefore qualify as glycoprotein. Examples of glycoproteins include PSMA (prostate-specific membrane antigen), CAL (candida antartica lipase), gp41, gp120, EPO (erythropoietin), antifreeze protein and antibodies.

The term “glycan” is herein used in its normal scientific meaning and refers to a monosaccharide or oligosaccharide chain that is linked to a protein. The term glycan thus refers to the carbohydrate-part of a glycoprotein. The glycan is attached to a protein via the C-1 carbon of one sugar, which may be without further substitution (monosaccharide) or may be further substituted at one or more of its hydroxyl groups (oligosaccharide). A naturally occurring glycan typically comprises 1 to about 10 saccharide moieties. However, when a longer saccharide chain is linked to a protein, said saccharide chain is herein also considered a glycan. A glycan of a glycoprotein may be a monosaccharide. Typically, a monosaccharide glycan of a glycoprotein consists of a single N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc), glucose (Glc), mannose (Man) or fucose (Fuc) covalently attached to the protein. A glycan may also be an oligosaccharide. An oligosaccharide chain of a glycoprotein may be linear or branched. In an oligosaccharide, the sugar that is directly attached to the protein is called the core sugar. In an oligosaccharide, a sugar that is not directly attached to the protein and is attached to at least two other sugars is called an internal sugar. In an oligosaccharide, a sugar that is not directly attached to the protein but to a single other sugar, i.e. carrying no further sugar substituents at one or more of its other hydroxyl groups, is called the terminal sugar. For the avoidance of doubt, there may exist multiple terminal sugars in an oligosaccharide of a glycoprotein, but only one core sugar. A glycan may be an O-linked glycan, an N-linked glycan or a C-linked glycan. In an O-linked glycan a monosaccharide or oligosaccharide glycan is bonded to an O-atom in an amino acid of the protein, typically via a hydroxyl group of serine (Ser) or threonine (Thr). In an N-linked glycan a monosaccharide or oligosaccharide glycan is bonded to the protein via an N-atom in an amino acid of the protein, typically via an amide nitrogen in the side chain of asparagine (Asn) or arginine (Arg). In a C-linked glycan a monosaccharide or oligosaccharide glycan is bonded to a C-atom in an amino acid of the protein, typically to a C-atom of tryptophan (Trp).

The term “antibody” is herein used in its normal scientific meaning. An antibody is a protein generated by the immune system that is capable of recognizing and binding to a specific antigen. An antibody is an example of a glycoprotein. The term antibody herein is used in its broadest sense and specifically includes monoclonal antibodies, polyclonal antibodies, dimers, multimers, multi-specific antibodies (e.g. bispecific antibodies), antibody fragments, and double and single chain antibodies. The term “antibody” is herein also meant to include human antibodies, humanized antibodies, chimeric antibodies and antibodies specifically binding cancer antigen. The term “antibody” is meant to include whole antibodies, but also antigen-binding fragments of an antibody, for example an antibody Fab fragment, F(ab′)₂, Fv fragment or Fc fragment from a cleaved antibody, a scFv-Fc fragment, a minibody, a diabody or a scFv. Furthermore, the term includes genetically engineered antibodies and derivatives of an antibody. Antibodies, fragments of antibodies and genetically engineered antibodies may be obtained by methods that are known in the art. Typical examples of antibodies include, amongst others, abciximab, rituximab, basiliximab, palivizumab, infliximab, trastuzumab, alemtuzumab, adalimumab, tositumomab-1131, cetuximab, ibrituximab tiuxetan, omalizumab, bevacizumab, natalizumab, ranibizumab, panitumumab, eculizumab, certolizumab pegol, golimumab, canakinumab, catumaxomab, ustekinumab, tocilizumab, ofatumumab, denosumab, belimumab, ipilimumab and brentuximab.

A linker is herein defined as a moiety that connects two or more elements of a compound. For example in a bioconjugate, a biomolecule and a target molecule are covalently connected to each other via a linker; in the linker-conjugate a reactive group Q¹ is covalently connected to a target molecule via a linker; in a linker-construct a reactive group Q¹ is covalently connected to a reactive group Q² via a linker. A linker may comprise one or more spacer-moieties.

A spacer-moiety is herein defined as a moiety that spaces (i.e. provides distance between) and covalently links together two (or more) parts of a linker. The linker may be part of e.g. a linker-construct, the linker-conjugate or a bioconjugate, as defined below.

A linker-construct is herein defined as a compound wherein a reactive group Q¹ is covalently connected to a reactive group Q² via a linker. A linker-construct comprises a reactive group Q¹ capable of reacting with a reactive group present on a biomolecule, and a reactive group Q² capable of reacting with a reactive group present on a target molecule. Q¹ and Q² may be the same, or different. A linker-construct may also comprise more than one reactive group Q¹ and/or more than one reactive group Q². A linker-construct may also be denoted as Q¹-Sp-Q², wherein Q¹ is a reactive group capable of reacting with a reactive group F¹ present on a biomolecule, Q² is a reactive group capable of reacting with a reactive group F² present on a target molecule and Sp is a spacer moiety. When a linker-construct comprises more than one reactive group Q¹ and/or more than one reactive group Q², the linker-construct may be denoted as (Q¹)_(y)-Sp-(Q²)_(z), wherein y is an integer in the range of 1 to 10 and z is an integer in the range of 1 to 10. Preferably, y is 1, 2, 3 or 4, more preferably y is 1 or 2 and most preferably, y is 1. Preferably, z is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, more preferably z is 1, 2, 3 or 4, even more preferably z is 1, 2 or 3, yet even more preferably z is 1 or 2 and most preferably z is 1. More preferably, y is 1 or 2, preferably 1, and z is 1, 2, 3 or 4, yet even more preferably y is 1 or 2, preferably 1, and z is 1, 2 or 3, yet even more preferably y is 1 or 2, preferably 1, and z is 1 or 2, and most preferably y is 1 and z is 1.

A bioconjugate is herein defined as a compound wherein a biomolecule is covalently connected to a target molecule via a linker. A bioconjugate comprises one or more biomolecules and/or one or more target molecules. The linker may comprise one or more spacer moieties.

When a compound is herein referred to as a compound comprising an alpha-end and an omega-end, said compound comprises two (or more) ends, the first end being referred to as the alpha-end and the second end being referred to as the omega-end. Said compound may comprise more than two ends, i.e. a third, fourth etc. end may be present in the compound.

A biomolecule is herein defined as any molecule that can be isolated from nature or any molecule composed of smaller molecular building blocks that are the constituents of macromolecular structures derived from nature, in particular nucleic acids, proteins, glycans and lipids. Examples of a biomolecule include an enzyme, a (non-catalytic) protein, a polypeptide, a peptide, an amino acid, an oligonucleotide, a monosaccharide, an oligosaccharide, a polysaccharide, a glycan, a lipid and a hormone.

A target molecule, also referred to as a molecule of interest (MOI), is herein defined as molecular structure possessing a desired property that is imparted onto the biomolecule upon conjugation. Herein, a sulfamide linker and conjugates of said sulfamide linker are disclosed. The term “sulfamide linker” refers to a linker comprising a sulfamide group, more particularly an acylsulfamide group [—C(O)—N(H)—S(O)₂—N(R¹)—] and/or a carbamoyl sulfamide group [—O—C(O)—N(H)—S(O)₂—N(R¹)—].

Herein, the term “therapeutic index” (TI) has the conventional meaning well known to a person skilled in the art, and refers to the ratio of the dose of drug that is toxic (i.e. causes adverse effects at an incidence or severity not compatible with the targeted indication) for 50% of the population (TD₅₀) divided by the dose that leads to the desired pharmacological effect in 50% of the population (effective dose or ED₅₀). Hence, TI=TD₅₀/ED₅₀. The therapeutic index may be determined by clinical trials or for example by plasma exposure tests. See also Muller, et al. Nature Reviews Drug Discovery 2012, 11, 751-761.

Herein, the term “therapeutic efficacy” denotes the capacity of a substance to achieve a certain therapeutic effect, e.g. reduction in tumour volume. Therapeutic effects can be measured determining the extent in which a substance can achieve the desired effect, typically in comparison with another substance under the same circumstances. A suitable measure for the therapeutic efficacy is the ED₅₀ value, which may for example be determined during clinical trials or by plasma exposure tests. In case of preclinical therapeutic efficacy determination, the therapeutic effect of a bioconjugate (e.g. an ADC), can be validated by patient-derived tumour xenografts in mice in which case the efficacy refers to the ability of the ADC to provide a beneficial effect. Alternatively the tolerability of said ADC in a rodent safety study can also be a measure of the therapeutic effect.

Herein, the term “tolerability” refers to the maximum dose of a specific substance that does not cause adverse effects at an incidence or severity not compatible with the targeted indication. A suitable measure for the tolerability for a specific substance is the TD₅₀ value, which may for example be determined during clinical trials or by plasma exposure tests.

Linker

A linker is herein defined as a moiety that connects two or more elements of a compound. For example in a bioconjugate, a biomolecule and a target molecule are covalently connected to each other via a linker; in a linker-conjugate a reactive group Q¹ is covalently connected to a target molecule via a linker; in a linker-construct a reactive group Q¹ is covalently connected to a reactive group Q² via a linker.

In the context of the present invention, the linker-construct, linker-conjugate and bioconjugate according to the invention comprise a branched sulfamide linker. The term “branched sulfamide linker” refers to a linker comprising a sulfamide group, more particularly an acylsulfamide group [—C(O)—N(H)—S(O)₂—N(R¹)—] and/or a carbamoyl sulfamide group [—O—C(O)—N(H)—S(O)₂—N(R¹)—]. The linker according to the invention further comprises branching moiety (BM).

Branching Moiety BM

A “branching moiety” in the context of the present invention refers to a moiety that is embedded in a linker connecting two moieties, in particular a target molecule D and a reactive group Q¹, or a target molecule D and a biomolecule B, or a reactive group Q¹ and a reactive group Q², and further comprises a branch points that connects to the sulfamide group according to the present invention. In other words, the branching moiety comprises at least three bonds to other moieties, one bond to reactive group Q² or target molecule D, optionally via a spacer, one bond to reactive group Q¹ or biomolecule B, optionally via a spacer, and one bond to sulfamide group SG, optionally via a spacer. Branching moiety BM may contain additional bonds to other moieties, such as two or more bonds to target molecules, two or more bonds to reactive groups or biomolecules and/or two or more bonds to sulfamide groups. In one embodiment, the branching moiety comprises 3, 4, 5 or 6 bonds to other moieties, preferably 3 or 4 bonds to other moieties. In case the branching moiety contains more than 3 bonds to other moieties, it is preferred that two or more bonds are to a target molecule.

Any moiety that contains at least three bonds to other moieties is suitable as branching moiety in the context of the present invention. Suitable branching moieties include a carbon atom (BM-1 and BM-2), a nitrogen atom (amine (BM-3) and ammonium (BM-4)), a phosphorus atom (phosphine (BM-5) and phosphine oxide (BM-6)), aromatic rings such as a phenyl ring (e.g. BM-7 and BM-8) or a pyridyl ring (e.g. BM-9 and BM-10), a (hetero)cycle (e.g. BM-11 and BM-12) and polycyclic moieties (e.g. BM-13, BM-14 and BM-15). Preferred branching moieties are selected from carbon atoms and phenyl rings, most preferably BM is a carbon atom. Structures (BM-1) to (BM-15) are depicted here below, wherein the three or four branches, i.e. bonds to other moieties as defined above, are indicated by

(a bond labelled with *).

In (BM-1), one of the branches labelled with * may be a single or a double bond, indicated with

. In (BM-4), An⁻ is an anion, typically a pharmaceutically acceptable anion. In (BM-11) to (BM-15), the following applies:

-   -   each of p, q and q is individually an integer in the range of         0-5, preferably 0 or 1, most preferably 1;     -   each of W¹, W² and W³ is independently selected from C(R²¹)_(r)         and N;     -   each of W⁴, W⁵ and W⁶ is independently selected from         C(R²¹)_(r+1), N(R²²)_(r), O and S;     -   each         represents a single or double bond;     -   r is 0 or 1 or 2, preferably 0 or 1;     -   each R²¹ is independently selected from the group consisting of         hydrogen, OH, C₁-C₂₄ alkyl groups, C₁-C₂₄ alkoxy groups, C₃-C₂₄         cycloalkyl groups, C₂-C₂₄ (hetero)aryl groups, C₃-C₂₄         alkyl(hetero)aryl groups and C₃-C₂₄ (hetero)arylalkyl groups,         wherein the C₁-C₂₄ alkyl groups, C₁-C₂₄ alkoxy groups, C₃-C₂₄         cycloalkyl groups, C₂-C₂₄ (hetero)aryl groups, C₃-C₂₄         alkyl(hetero)aryl groups and C₃-C₂₄ (hetero)arylalkyl groups are         optionally substituted and optionally interrupted by one or more         heteroatoms selected from O, S and NR³ wherein R³ is         independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and         C₁-C₄ alkyl groups, or R²¹ is a further branch         , connected to a further occurrence of SG, D, Q¹, Q² or B,         optionally via a spacer; and     -   each R²² is independently selected from the group consisting of         hydrogen, C₁-C₂₄ alkyl groups, C₃-C₂₄ cycloalkyl groups, C₂-C₂₄         (hetero)aryl groups, C₃-C₂₄ alkyl(hetero)aryl groups and C₃-C₂₄         (hetero)arylalkyl groups, wherein the C₁-C₂₄ alkyl groups,         C₁-C₂₄ alkoxy groups, C₃-C₂₄ cycloalkyl groups, C₂-C₂₄         (hetero)aryl groups, C₃-C₂₄ alkyl(hetero)aryl groups and C₃-C₂₄         (hetero)arylalkyl groups are optionally substituted and         optionally interrupted by one or more heteroatoms selected from         O, S and NR³ wherein R³ is independently selected from the group         consisting of hydrogen and C₁-C₄ alkyl groups, or R²² is a         further branch         , connected to a further occurrence of SG, D, Q¹, Q² or B,         optionally via a spacer

The skilled person appreciates that the values of r and the bond order of the bonds represented by

are interdependent. Thus, whenever an occurrence of W is bonded to an endocyclic double bond, r=1 for that occurrence of W, while whenever an occurrence of W is bonded to two endocyclic single bonds, r=0 for that occurrence of W. For BM-12, at least one of o and p is not 0.

Representative examples of branching moieties according to structure (BM-11) and (BM-12) include cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, cyclooctyl, cyclopropenyl, cyclobutenyl, cyclopentenyl, cyclohexenyl, cycloheptenyl, cyclooctenyl, aziridine, azetidine, diazetidine, oxetane, thietane, pyrrolidine, dihydropyrrolyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, dihydrofuranyl, thiolanyl, imidazolinyl, pyrazolidinyl, oxazolidinyl, isoxazolidinyl, thiazolidinyl, isothiazolidinyl, dioxolanyl, dithiolanyl, piperidinyl, oxanyl, thianyl, piperazinyl, morpholino, thiomorpholino, dioxanyl, trioxanyl, dithyanyl, trithianyl, azepanyl, oxepanyl and thiepanyl. Preferred cyclic moieties for use as branching moiety include cyclopropenyl, cyclohexyl, oxanyl and dioxanyl. The substitution pattern of the three branches determines whether the branching moiety is of structure (BM-11) or of structure (BM-12). In one embodiment, BM is not cyclopropyl. In one embodiment, BM is not pyrrolidine.

Representative examples of branching moieties according to structure (BM-13) to (BM-15) include decalin, tetralin, dialin, naphthalene, indene, indane, isoindene, indole, isoindole, indoline, isoindoline, and the like.

At least one, preferably one or two, of the branches indicated with * in structures (BM-1) to (BM-15) is connected to reactive group Q² or target molecule D. At least one, preferably one, of the branches indicated with * in structures (BM-1) to (BM-15) is connected to reactive group Q¹ or biomolecule B. At least one, preferably one or two, of the branches indicated with * in structures (BM-1) to (BM-15) is connected to sulfamide group SG.

In case a branching moiety contains four branches (bonds labelled with *), two of those may be connected or may be part of a single occurrence of SG, D, Q¹, Q² or B, via a cyclic moiety. For example, in case the branching moiety is the carbon atom of BM-2, one bond may be to SG, one bond may be to D and two bonds may form a cycle, e.g. a cyclopropyl ring, that is part of Q¹, for example part of a cyclooctyne ring.

In a preferred embodiment, BM is a carbon atom. In case the carbon atom is according to structure (BM-2) and two of the branches indicated with * are connected to identical moieties, than the carbon atom is not chiral. Such two identical moieties may be two target molecules D, optionally linked via a spacer, two biomolecules B, optionally linked via a spacer, or two sulfamide groups SG-E, optionally linked via a spacer, preferably two target molecules D, optionally linked via a spacer. However, in case the carbon atom is according to structure (BM-1) or is according to structure (BM-2) and all four bonds are to distinct moieties, e.g. when two target molecules D, optionally linked via a spacer, are linked to the branching moiety according to structure (BM-2), wherein the target molecules and/or the spacer differ, the carbon atom is chiral. The stereochemistry of the carbon atom is not crucial for the present invention, and may be S or R. The same holds for the quaternary ammonium ion of (BM-4) and phosphine (BM-6). Most preferably, the carbon atom is according to structure (BM-1).

One of the branches indicated with * in the carbon atom according to structure (BM-1) may be a double bond, in which case the carbon atom may be part of an alkene or imine. In case BM is a carbon atom, the carbon atom may be part of a larger functional group, such as an acetal, a ketal, a hemiketal, an orthoester, an orthocarbonate ester, and the like. This also holds in case BM is a nitrogen or phosphorus atom, in which case it may be part of an amide, an imide, an imine, a phosphine oxide (as in BM-6) or a phosphotriester.

In a preferred embodiment, BM is a phenyl ring. Phenyl rings may be tri-, tetra-, penta- or hexa-substituted, preferably they are tri- or tetra-substituted, i.e. according to structure (BM-7) or structure (BM-8), respectively. Most preferably, the phenyl ring is according to structure (BM-7).

The substitution pattern of the phenyl ring may be of any regiochemistry, such as 1,2,3-substituted phenyl rings, 1,2,4-substituted phenyl rings, 1,3,5-substituted phenyl rings, 1,2,3,4-substituted phenyl rings, 1,2,3,5-substituted phenyl rings or 1,2,4,5-substituted phenyl rings. To allow optimal flexibility and conformational freedom, it is preferred that the phenyl ring is according to structure (BM-7), most preferably the phenyl ring is 1,3,5-substituted. The same holds for the pyridine rings of (BM-9) and (BM-10).

Sulfamide Group SG

In the linker of the present invention, branching moiety BM is connected to the sulfamide group SG according to formula (1). Herein, the bonds to the other moieties of the compounds according to the inventions are indicated by 1 and 2. Sulfamide group SG is connected via one of the bonds indicated with 1 and 2 to branching moiety BM, optionally via a spacer, and with the other bond indicated with 1 or 2 to capping group E, optionally via a spacer.

Herein:

-   -   a is 0 or 1; and     -   R¹ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C₁-C₂₄         alkyl groups, C₃-C₂₄ cycloalkyl groups, C₂-C₂₄ (hetero)aryl         groups, C₃-C₂₄ alkyl(hetero)aryl groups and C₃-C₂₄         (hetero)arylalkyl groups, wherein the C₁-C₂₄ alkyl groups,         C₃-C₂₄ cycloalkyl groups, C₂-C₂₄ (hetero)aryl groups, C₃-C₂₄         alkyl(hetero)aryl groups and C₃-C₂₄ (hetero)arylalkyl groups are         optionally substituted and optionally interrupted by one or more         heteroatoms selected from O, S and NR³ wherein R³ is         independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and         C₁-C₄ alkyl groups, or R¹ is a further target molecule D,         wherein the target molecule is optionally connected to N via a         spacer moiety.

The linker according to the invention comprises a group according to formula (1) as defined above. In a preferred embodiment, the linker according to the invention comprises a group according to formula (1) wherein a is 0, or a salt thereof. In this embodiment, the compound thus comprises a group according to formula (2) or a salt thereof:

wherein R¹ is as defined above.

In another preferred embodiment, the linker according to the invention comprises a group according to formula (1) wherein a is 1. In this embodiment, the linker thus comprises a group according to formula (3) or a salt thereof:

wherein R¹ is as defined above.

In the groups according to formula (1), (2) and (3), R¹ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C₁-C₂₄ alkyl groups, C₃-C₂₄ cycloalkyl groups, C₂-C₂₄ (hetero)aryl groups, C₃-C₂₄ alkyl(hetero)aryl groups and C₃-C₂₄ (hetero)arylalkyl groups, the C₁-C₂₄ alkyl groups, C₃-C₂₄ cycloalkyl groups, C₂-C₂₄ (hetero)aryl groups, C₃-C₂₄ alkyl(hetero)aryl groups and C₃-C₂₄ (hetero)arylalkyl groups optionally substituted and optionally interrupted by one or more heteroatoms selected from O, S and NR³ wherein R³ is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C₁-C₄ alkyl groups, or R¹ is a target molecule D, wherein the target molecule is optionally connected to N via a spacer moiety. In one embodiment, in case R¹ is a target molecule D, optionally connected via a spacer, D is not a drug or a prodrug, preferably not an active substance. In one embodiment, R¹ is not D.

In a preferred embodiment, R¹ is hydrogen or a C₁-C₂₀ alkyl group, more preferably R¹ is hydrogen or a C₁-C₁₆ alkyl group, even more preferably R¹ is hydrogen or a C₁-C₁₀ alkyl group, wherein the alkyl group is optionally substituted and optionally interrupted by one or more heteroatoms selected from O, S and NR³, preferably O, wherein R³ is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C₁-C₄ alkyl groups. In a preferred embodiment, R¹ is hydrogen. In another preferred embodiment, R¹ is a C₁-C₂₀ alkyl group, more preferably a C₁-C₁₆ alkyl group, even more preferably a C₁-C₁₀ alkyl group, wherein the alkyl group is optionally interrupted by one or more O-atoms, and wherein the alkyl group is optionally substituted with an —OH group, preferably a terminal —OH group. In this embodiment, it is further preferred that R¹ is a (poly)ethylene glycol chain comprising a terminal —OH group. In another preferred embodiment, R¹ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, i-propyl, n-butyl, s-butyl and t-butyl, more preferably from the group consisting of hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl and i-propyl, and even more preferably from the group consisting of hydrogen, methyl and ethyl. Yet even more preferably R¹ is hydrogen or methyl, and most preferably R¹ is hydrogen.

In another preferred embodiment, R¹ is a target molecule D. Optionally, the target molecule D is connected to N via one or more spacer-moieties. The spacer-moiety, if present, is defined as a moiety that spaces, i.e. provides a certain distance between, and covalently links target molecule D and N. The target molecule D and preferred embodiments thereof are described in more detail below.

Capping Group E

Sulfamide group SG is connected to capping group E, optionally via a spacer moiety. Any group or moiety known in the art to act as capping group may be used as capping group E. Suitable capping groups include hydrogen, C₁-C₂₄ alkyl groups, C₃-C₂₄ cycloalkyl groups, C₂-C₂₄ (hetero)aryl groups, C₃-C₂₄ alkyl(hetero)aryl groups, C₃-C₂₄ (hetero)arylalkyl groups, polyethylene glycol groups represented by —(CH₂CH₂O)_(p)CH₃ (wherein p=1-10, preferably 2-4), wherein the C₁-C₂₄ alkyl groups, C₃-C₂₄ cycloalkyl groups, C₂-C₂₄ (hetero)aryl groups, C₃-C₂₄ alkyl(hetero)aryl groups and C₃-C₂₄ (hetero)arylalkyl groups are optionally substituted and optionally interrupted by one or more heteroatoms selected from O, S and NR³ wherein R³ is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C₁-C₄ alkyl groups, or E is a further target molecule D. In one embodiment, in case E is a target molecule D, D is not a drug or a prodrug, preferably not an active substance. In one embodiment, E is not D.

In one embodiment, both R¹ and E are further target molecules D, which may be the same or different and the same or different as the target molecule D in the main chain. In one embodiment, one of R¹ and E is a further target molecule D, which may be the same or different as the target molecule D in the main chain. In one embodiment, both R¹ and E are not a further target molecule D.

In one embodiment, E is a polyethylene glycol groups, which is typically represented by —(CH₂CH₂O)_(s)CH₃, wherein s is an integer in the range of 1-10, preferably 2-4. In one embodiment, E is a C₁-C₂₄ alkyl group, C₂-C₂₄ (hetero)aryl group or a C₃-C₂₄ alkyl(hetero)aryl group, preferably a C₆-C₁₂ alkaryl group, most preferably a benzyl group.

The linker according to the present invention connects reactive group Q² or target molecule D on one hand, and reactive group Q¹ or biomolecule B on the other hand.

Preferred Linkers

Sulfamide linkers according to the present invention are preferably represented by formula (2):

Herein:

-   -   BM is a branching moiety as defined above;     -   E is a capping group as defined above;     -   SG is a sulfamide group according to formula (1), wherein a and         R¹ are as defined above;     -   b is independently 0 or 1;     -   c is 0 or 1;     -   d is 0 or 1;     -   e is 0 or 1;     -   f is an integer in the range of 1 to 10;     -   g is 0 or 1;     -   i is 0 or 1;     -   k is 0 or 1;     -   l is 0 or 1;     -   Sp¹ is a spacer moiety;     -   Sp² is a spacer moiety;     -   Sp³ is a spacer moiety;     -   Sp⁴ is a spacer moiety;     -   Sp⁵ is a spacer moiety;     -   Sp⁶ is a spacer moiety;     -   Z¹ is a connecting group; and     -   Z² is a connecting group.

The bonds labelled with * in structure (2) are the bonds to the other moieties that are connected by the linker within the compounds according to the invention.

As will be understood by the person skilled in the art, preferred embodiments of the linker of structure (2) will depend on e.g. the nature of reactive groups Q¹ and D in the linker-conjugate, the synthetic method to prepare the linker-construct and linker-conjugate (e.g. the nature of complementary functional group F² on a target molecule), the nature of a bioconjugate that is prepared using the linker-conjugate (e.g. the nature of complementary functional group F¹ on the biomolecule).

When Q¹ is for example a cyclooctynyl group according to formula (9n), (9o), (9p), (9q) or (9zk) as defined below, then preferably Sp³ is present (g is 1). When for example the linker-conjugate was prepared via reaction of a reactive group Q² that is a cyclooctynyl group according to formula (9n), (9o), (9p), (9q) or (9zk) with an azido functional group F², then preferably Sp⁴ is present (i is 1). Furthermore, it is preferred that at least one of Sp¹, Sp², Sp³ and Sp⁴ is present, i.e. at least one of b, c, g, and i is not 0. In another preferred embodiment, at least one of Sp¹ and Sp⁴ and at least one of Sp² and Sp³ are present. When f is 2 or more, it is preferred that Sp¹ is present (b is 1). Preferred embodiments of Sp¹, Sp², Sp³ and Sp⁴ are as defined below.

As defined above, Z¹ is a connecting group that connects Q¹ or B or Sp³ to Sp² or BM, and Z² is a connecting group that connects Q² or D or Sp⁴ to Sp¹ or BM. As described in more detail above, the term “connecting group” refers to a structural element connecting one part of a compound and another part of the same compound.

In a compound according to formula (2), connecting group Z¹, when present (i.e. when d is 1), connects Q¹ or B (optionally via a spacer moiety Sp³) to branching moiety BM, optionally via a spacer moiety Sp². More particularly, when Z¹ is present (i.e. d is 1), and when Sp³ and Sp² are absent (i.e. g is 0 and c is 0), Z¹ connects Q¹ or B to BM of the linker according to formula (2). When Z¹ is present (i.e. when d is 1), Sp³ is present (i.e. g is 1) and Sp² is absent (i.e. c is 0), Z¹ connects spacer moiety Sp³ to BM of the linker according to formula (2). When Z¹ is present (i.e. d is 1), and when Sp³ and Sp² are present (i.e. g is 1 and c is 1), Z¹ connects spacer moiety Sp³ to spacer moiety Sp² of the linker according to formula (2). When Z¹ is present (i.e. when d is 1), Sp³ is absent (i.e. g is 0) and Sp² is present (i.e. c is 1), Z¹ connects Q¹ or B to spacer moiety Sp² of the linker according to formula (2). In the compound according to formula (2), when c, d and g are all 0, then Q¹ or B is attached directly to BM of the linker according to formula (2).

In a compound according to formula (2), connecting group Z², when present (i.e. when e is 1), connects D or Q² (optionally via a spacer moiety Sp⁴) to BM of the linker according to formula (2), optionally via a spacer moiety Sp¹. More particularly, when Z² is present (i.e. e is 1), and when Sp¹ and Sp⁴ are absent (i.e. b is 0 and i is 0), Z² connects D or Q² to BM of the linker according to formula (2). When Z² is present (i.e. when e is 1), Sp⁴ is present (i.e. i is 1) and Sp¹ is absent (i.e. b is 0), Z² connects spacer moiety Sp⁴ to BM of the linker according to formula (2). When Z² is present (i.e. e is 1), and when Sp⁴ and Sp¹ are present (i.e. b is 1 and i is 1), Z² connects spacer moiety Sp⁴ to spacer moiety Sp¹ of the linker according to formula (2). When Z² is present (i.e. when e is 1), Sp⁴ is absent (i.e. i is 0) and Sp¹ is present (i.e. c is b), Z² connects D or Q² to spacer moiety Sp¹ of the linker according to formula (2). In the compound according to formula (2), when b, e and i are all 0, then D or Q² is attached directly to BM of the linker according to formula (2).

As will be understood by the person skilled in the art, the nature of a connecting group depends on the type of organic reaction with which the connection between the specific parts of said compound was obtained. A large number of organic reactions are available for connecting a reactive group Q¹ to a spacer moiety, and for connecting a target molecule to a spacer-moiety. Consequently, there is a large variety of connecting groups Z¹ and Z².

In a preferred embodiment of the linker according to formula (2), Z¹ and Z² are independently selected from the group consisting of —O—, —S—, —S—S—, —NR²—, —N═N—, —C(O)—, —C(O)—NR²—, —O—C(O)—, —O—C(O)—O—, —O—C(O)—NR², —NR²—C(O)—, —NR²—C(O)—O—, —NR²—C(O)—NR²—, —S—C(O)—, —S—C(O)—O—, —S—C(O)—NR²—, —S(O)—, —S(O)₂—, —O—S(O)₂—, —O—S(O)₂—O—, —O—S(O)₂—NR²—, —O—S(O)—, —O—S(O)—O—, —O—S(O)—NR²—, —O—NR²—C(O)—, —O—NR²—C(O)—O—, —O—NR²—C(O)—NR²—, —NR²—O—C(O)—, —NR²—O—C(O)—O—, —NR²—O—C(O)—NR²—, —O—NR²—C(S)—, —O—NR²—C(S)—O—, —O—NR²—C(S)—NR²—, —NR²—O—C(S)—, —NR²—O—C(S)—O—, —NR²—O—C(S)—NR²—, —O—C(S)—, —O—C(S)—O—, —O—C(S)—NR²—, —NR²—C(S)—, —NR²—C(S)—O—, —NR²—C(S)—NR²—, —S—S(O)₂—, —S—S(O)₂—O—, —S—S(O)₂—NR²—, —NR²—O—S(O)—, —NR²—O—S(O)—O—, —NR²—O—S(O)—NR²—, —NR²—O—S(O)₂—, —NR²—O—S(O)₂—O—, —NR²—O—S(O)₂—NR²—, —O—NR²—S(O)—, —O—NR²—S(O)—O—, —O—NR²—S(O)—NR²—, —O—NR²—S(O)₂—O—, —O—NR²—S(O)₂—NR²—, —O—NR²—S(O)₂—, —O—P(O)(R²)₂—, —S—P(O)(R²)₂—, —NR²—P(O)(R²)₂— and combinations of two or more thereof, wherein R² is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C₁-C₂₄ alkyl groups, C₂-C₂₄ alkenyl groups, C₂-C₂₄ alkynyl groups and C₃-C₂₄ cycloalkyl groups, the alkyl groups, alkenyl groups, alkynyl groups and cycloalkyl groups being optionally substituted.

As described above, in the compound according to formula (2), Sp¹, Sp², Sp³, Sp⁴, Sp⁵ and Sp⁶ are spacer-moieties. Sp¹, Sp², Sp³, Sp⁴, Sp⁵ and Sp⁶ may be, independently, absent or present (b, c, g, i, k and l are, independently, 0 or 1). Each spacer, if present, may be different from any other spacer, if present.

Spacer-moieties are known to a person skilled in the art. Examples of suitable spacer-moieties include (poly)ethylene glycol diamines (e.g. 1,8-diamino-3,6-dioxaoctane or equivalents comprising longer ethylene glycol chains), polyethylene glycol chains or polyethylene oxide chains, polypropylene glycol chains or polypropylene oxide chains and 1,x-diaminoalkanes wherein x is the number of carbon atoms in the alkane. Another class of suitable spacer-moieties comprises cleavable spacer-moieties, or cleavable linkers. Cleavable linkers are well known in the art. For example Shabat et al., Soft Matter 2012, 6, 1073, incorporated by reference herein, discloses cleavable linkers comprising self-immolative moieties that are released upon a biological trigger, e.g. an enzymatic cleavage or an oxidation event. Some examples of suitable cleavable linkers are disulfide-linkers that are cleaved upon reduction, peptide-linkers that are cleaved upon specific recognition by a protease, e.g. cathepsin, plasmin or metalloproteases, or glycoside-based linkers that are cleaved upon specific recognition by a glycosidase, e.g. glucoronidase, or nitroaromatics that are reduced in oxygen-poor, hypoxic areas. Herein, suitable cleavable spacer-moieties also include spacer moieties comprising a specific, cleavable, sequence of amino acids. Examples include e.g. spacer-moieties comprising a Val-Ala (valine-alanine) or Val-Cit (valine-citrulline) moiety. Bioconjugates containing a cleavable linker, such as Val-Cit linker, in particular Val-Cit-PABC, suffer considerably from aggregation in view of their limited water-solubility. For such bioconjugates, incorporating the sulfamide linker according to the invention is particularly beneficial. Also, conjugation reactions with a linker comprising a cleavable linker are hampered by the limited water-solubility of the linker. Hence, linker comprising a cleavable linker, such as Val-Cit linker, in particular Val-Cit-PABC, and the sulfamide linker according to the invention outperform linkers comprising such a cleavable linker but lacking such sulfamide linker in conjugation to biomolecules.

Thus, in a preferred embodiment of the linker according to formula (2), spacer moieties Sp¹, Sp², Sp³, Sp⁴, Sp⁵ and/or Sp⁶, if present, comprise a sequence of amino acids. Spacer-moieties comprising a sequence of amino acids are known in the art, and may also be referred to as peptide linkers. Examples include spacer-moieties comprising a Val-Cit moiety, e.g. Val-Cit-PABC, Val-Cit-PABC, Fmoc-Val-Cit-PABC, etc. Preferably, a Val-Cit-PABC moiety is employed in the linker.

In a preferred embodiment of the linker according to formula (2), spacer moieties Sp¹, Sp², Sp³, Sp⁴, Sp⁵ and Sp⁶, if present, are independently selected from the group consisting of linear or branched C₁-C₂₀₀ alkylene groups, C₂-C₂₀₀ alkenylene groups, C₂-C₂₀₀ alkynylene groups, C₃-C₂₀₀ cycloalkylene groups, C₅-C₂₀₀ cycloalkenylene groups, C₈-C₂₀₀ cycloalkynylene groups, C₇-C₂₀₀ alkylarylene groups, C₇-C₂₀₀ arylalkylene groups, C₈-C₂₀₀ arylalkenylene groups and C₉-C₂₀₀ arylalkynylene groups, the alkylene groups, alkenylene groups, alkynylene groups, cycloalkylene groups, cycloalkenylene groups, cycloalkynylene groups, alkylarylene groups, arylalkylene groups, arylalkenylene groups and arylalkynylene groups being optionally substituted and optionally interrupted by one or more heteroatoms selected from the group of O, S and NR³, wherein R³ is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C₁-C₂₄ alkyl groups, C₂-C₂₄ alkenyl groups, C₂-C₂₄ alkynyl groups and C₃-C₂₄ cycloalkyl groups, the alkyl groups, alkenyl groups, alkynyl groups and cycloalkyl groups being optionally substituted. When the alkylene groups, alkenylene groups, alkynylene groups, cycloalkylene groups, cycloalkenylene groups, cycloalkynylene groups, alkylarylene groups, arylalkylene groups, arylalkenylene groups and arylalkynylene groups are interrupted by one or more heteroatoms as defined above, it is preferred that said groups are interrupted by one or more O-atoms, and/or by one or more S—S groups.

More preferably, spacer moieties Sp¹, Sp², Sp³, Sp⁴, Sp⁵ and Sp⁶, if present, are independently selected from the group consisting of linear or branched C₁-C₁₀₀ alkylene groups, C₂-C₁₀₀ alkenylene groups, C₂-C₁₀₀ alkynylene groups, C₃-C₁₀₀ cycloalkylene groups, C₅-C₁₀₀ cycloalkenylene groups, C₅-C₁₀₀ cycloalkynylene groups, C₇-C₁₀₀ alkylarylene groups, C₇-C₁₀₀ arylalkylene groups, C₅-C₁₀₀ arylalkenylene groups and C₉-C₁₀₀ arylalkynylene groups, the alkylene groups, alkenylene groups, alkynylene groups, cycloalkylene groups, cycloalkenylene groups, cycloalkynylene groups, alkylarylene groups, arylalkylene groups, arylalkenylene groups and arylalkynylene groups being optionally substituted and optionally interrupted by one or more heteroatoms selected from the group of O, S and NR³, wherein R³ is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C₁-C₂₄ alkyl groups, C₂-C₂₄ alkenyl groups, C₂-C₂₄ alkynyl groups and C₃-C₂₄ cycloalkyl groups, the alkyl groups, alkenyl groups, alkynyl groups and cycloalkyl groups being optionally substituted.

Even more preferably, spacer moieties Sp¹, Sp², Sp³, Sp⁴, Sp⁵ and Sp⁶, if present, are independently selected from the group consisting of linear or branched C₁-C₅₀ alkylene groups, C₂-C₅₀ alkenylene groups, C₂-C₅₀ alkynylene groups, C₃-C₅₀ cycloalkylene groups, C₅-C₅₀ cycloalkenylene groups, C₅-C₅₀ cycloalkynylene groups, C₇-C₅₀ alkylarylene groups, C₇-C₅₀ arylalkylene groups, C₅-C₅₀ arylalkenylene groups and C₉-C₅₀ arylalkynylene groups, the alkylene groups, alkenylene groups, alkynylene groups, cycloalkylene groups, cycloalkenylene groups, cycloalkynylene groups, alkylarylene groups, arylalkylene groups, arylalkenylene groups and arylalkynylene groups being optionally substituted and optionally interrupted by one or more heteroatoms selected from the group of O, S and NR³, wherein R³ is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C₁-C₂₄ alkyl groups, C₂-C₂₄ alkenyl groups, C₂-C₂₄ alkynyl groups and C₃-C₂₄ cycloalkyl groups, the alkyl groups, alkenyl groups, alkynyl groups and cycloalkyl groups being optionally substituted.

Yet even more preferably, spacer moieties Sp¹, Sp², Sp³, Sp⁴, Sp⁵ and Sp⁶, if present, are independently selected from the group consisting of linear or branched C₁-C₂₀ alkylene groups, C₂-C₂₀ alkenylene groups, C₂-C₂₀ alkynylene groups, C₃-C₂₀ cycloalkylene groups, C₅-C₂₀ cycloalkenylene groups, C₈-C₂₀ cycloalkynylene groups, C₇-C₂₀ alkylarylene groups, C₇-C₂₀ arylalkylene groups, C₈-C₂₀ arylalkenylene groups and C₉-C₂₀ arylalkynylene groups, the alkylene groups, alkenylene groups, alkynylene groups, cycloalkylene groups, cycloalkenylene groups, cycloalkynylene groups, alkylarylene groups, arylalkylene groups, arylalkenylene groups and arylalkynylene groups being optionally substituted and optionally interrupted by one or more heteroatoms selected from the group of O, S and NR³, wherein R³ is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C₁-C₂₄ alkyl groups, C₂-C₂₄ alkenyl groups, C₂-C₂₄ alkynyl groups and C₃-C₂₄ cycloalkyl groups, the alkyl groups, alkenyl groups, alkynyl groups and cycloalkyl groups being optionally substituted.

In these preferred embodiments it is further preferred that the alkylene groups, alkenylene groups, alkynylene groups, cycloalkylene groups, cycloalkenylene groups, cycloalkynylene groups, alkylarylene groups, arylalkylene groups, arylalkenylene groups and arylalkynylene groups are unsubstituted and optionally interrupted by one or more heteroatoms selected from the group of O, S and NR³, preferably 0, wherein R³ is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C₁-C₄ alkyl groups, preferably hydrogen or methyl.

Most preferably, spacer moieties Sp¹, Sp², Sp³, Sp⁴, Sp⁵ and Sp⁶, if present, are independently selected from the group consisting of linear or branched C₁-C₂₀ alkylene groups, the alkylene groups being optionally substituted and optionally interrupted by one or more heteroatoms selected from the group of O, S and NR³, wherein R³ is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C₁-C₂₄ alkyl groups, C₂-C₂₄ alkenyl groups, C₂-C₂₄ alkynyl groups and C₃-C₂₄ cycloalkyl groups, the alkyl groups, alkenyl groups, alkynyl groups and cycloalkyl groups being optionally substituted. In this embodiment, it is further preferred that the alkylene groups are unsubstituted and optionally interrupted by one or more heteroatoms selected from the group of O, S and NR³, preferably O and/or or S—S, wherein R³ is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C₁-C₄ alkyl groups, preferably hydrogen or methyl.

Preferred spacer moieties Sp¹, Sp², Sp³, Sp⁴, Sp⁵ and Sp⁶ thus include —(CH₂)_(n)—, —(CH₂CH₂)_(n)—, —(CH₂CH₂O)_(n)—, —(OCH₂CH₂)_(n)—, —(CH₂CH₂O)_(n)CH₂CH₂—, —CH₂CH₂(OCH₂CH₂)_(n)—, —(CH₂CH₂CH₂O)_(n)—, —(OCH₂CH₂CH₂)_(n)—, —(CH₂CH₂CH₂O)_(n)CH₂CH₂CH₂— and —CH₂CH₂CH₂(OCH₂CH₂CH₂)_(n)—, wherein n is an integer in the range of 1 to 50, preferably in the range of 1 to 40, more preferably in the range of 1 to 30, even more preferably in the range of 1 to 20 and yet even more preferably in the range of 1 to 15. More preferably n is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10, more preferably 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8, even more preferably 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, yet even more preferably 1, 2, 3 or 4.

Since Sp¹, Sp², Sp³, Sp⁴, Sp⁵ and Sp⁶ are independently selected, Sp¹, if present, may be different from Sp², if present, which may be different from Sp³, if present, which may be different from Sp⁴, if present, which may be different from Sp⁵, if present, which may be different from Sp⁶, if present.

As described above, R¹ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C₁-C₂₄ alkyl groups, C₃-C₂₄ cycloalkyl groups, C₂-C₂₄ (hetero)aryl groups, C₃-C₂₄ alkyl(hetero)aryl groups and C₃-C₂₄ (hetero)arylalkyl groups, the C₁-C₂₄ alkyl groups, C₃-C₂₄ cycloalkyl groups, C₂-C₂₄ (hetero)aryl groups, C₃-C₂₄ alkyl(hetero)aryl groups and C₃-C₂₄ (hetero)arylalkyl groups optionally substituted and optionally interrupted by one or more heteroatoms selected from O, S and NR³ wherein R³ is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C₁-C₄ alkyl groups, or R¹ is D, -[(Sp¹)_(b)—(Z²)_(e)—(Sp⁴)_(i)-D] or -[(Sp²)_(c)—(Z¹)_(d)—(Sp³)_(g)-Q¹], wherein Sp¹, Sp², Sp³, Sp⁴, Z¹, Z², D, Q¹, b, c, d, e, g and i are as defined above.

In a preferred embodiment, R¹ is hydrogen or a C₁-C₂₀ alkyl group, more preferably R¹ is hydrogen or a C₁-C₁₆ alkyl group, even more preferably R¹ is hydrogen or a C₁-C₁ alkyl group, wherein the alkyl group is optionally substituted and optionally interrupted by one or more heteroatoms selected from O, S and NR³, preferably 0, wherein R³ is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C₁-C₄ alkyl groups. In a further preferred embodiment, R¹ is hydrogen. In another further preferred embodiment, R¹ is a C₁-C₂₀ alkyl group, more preferably a C₁-C₁₆ alkyl group, even more preferably a C₁-C₁ alkyl group, wherein the alkyl group is optionally interrupted by one or more O-atoms, and wherein the alkyl group is optionally substituted with an —OH group, preferably a terminal —OH group. In this embodiment it is further preferred that R¹ is a polyethylene glycol chain comprising a terminal —OH group. In another further preferred embodiment, R¹ is a C₁-C₁₂ alkyl group, more preferably a C₁-C₆ alkyl group, even more preferably a C₁-C₄ alkyl group, and yet even more preferably R¹ is selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, i-propyl, n-butyl, s-butyl and t-butyl. In another preferred embodiment, R¹ is a target molecule D, -[(Sp¹)_(b)—(Z²)_(e)—(Sp⁴)_(i)-D] or -[(Sp²)_(c)—(Z¹)_(d)—(Sp³)_(g)-Q¹], wherein Sp¹, Sp², Sp³, Sp⁴, Z¹, Z², D, Q¹, b, c, d, e, g and i are as defined above.

In the linker according to formula (2), f is an integer in the range of 1 to 10, preferably 1-5. The linker may thus comprise more than one group according to formula (1), the group according to formula (1) being as defined above. When more than one group according to formula (1) is present, i.e. When f is 2 or more, then BM, b, Sp¹, Sp⁵, k, SG Sp⁶, I and E are independently selected. In other words, when f is 2 or more, each b is independently 0 or 1, each k is independently 0 or 1, each I is independently 0 or 1, each Sp¹ may be the same or different, each Sp⁵ may be the same or different, each Sp⁶ may be the same or different each SG may be the same or different and each E may be the same or different. f is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10, preferably f is 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, even more preferably f is 1, 2, 3 or 4, even more preferably f is 1, 2 or 3, even more preferably f is 1 or 2, and most preferably f is 1 in this embodiment. In another preferred embodiment, f is an integer in the range of 2 to 10, i.e. f is 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10, preferably f is 2, 3, 4 or 5, more preferably f is 2, 3 or 4, even more preferably f is 2 or 3, and most preferably f is 2 in this embodiment.

These preferred embodiments of the linker of structure (2) also hold for the linker-moiety in linker-conjugates, linker-constructs and bioconjugates according to the invention as described in more detail below.

Linker-Conjugate

In the context of the present invention, “linker-conjugate” refers to the target molecule D which is functionalized with a linker according to the invention, comprising a branching moiety BM and a sulfamide group SG, which further bears a reactive group Q¹. In other words, the linker-conjugate is a compound wherein a target molecule is covalently connected to a reactive group Q¹, via a linker. In a first aspect, the invention concerns linker-conjugates as defined herein. The linker-conjugate according to the invention comprises the linker according to the invention as defined above, preferably the linker according to structure (2).

The linker-conjugate according to the invention may comprise more than one target molecule D. Similarly, the linker-conjugate may comprise more than one reactive group Q¹. When more than one reactive group Q¹ is present the groups Q¹ may be the same or different, and when more than one target molecule D is present the target molecules D may be the same or different. The linker-conjugate according to the invention may therefore also be denoted as (Q¹)_(y)-Sp-(D)_(z), wherein y is an integer in the range of 1 to 10 and z is an integer in the range of 1 to 10. The invention thus also relates to a compound according to the formula: (Q¹)_(y)-Sp-(D)_(z), wherein:

-   -   y is an integer in the range of 1 to 10, preferably in the range         1-5, more preferably y=1;     -   z is an integer in the range of 1 to 10, preferably in the range         1-5;     -   Q¹ is a reactive group capable of reacting with a functional         group F¹ present on a biomolecule;     -   D is a target molecule;     -   Sp is a spacer moiety, wherein a spacer moiety is defined as a         moiety that spaces (i.e. provides a certain distance between)         and covalently links reactive group Q¹ and target molecule D,         wherein said spacer moiety comprises the linker according to the         invention as defined above.

Preferably, y is 1, 2, 3 or 4, more preferably y is 1 or 2 and most preferably, y is 1. Preferably, z is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, more preferably z is 1, 2, 3 or 4, even more preferably z is 1, 2 or 3, yet even more preferably z is 1 or 2 and most preferably z is 1. More preferably, y is 1 or 2, preferably 1, and z is 1, 2, 3 or 4, yet even more preferably y is 1 or 2, preferably 1, and z is 1, 2 or 3, yet even more preferably y is 1 or 2, preferably 1, and z is 1 or 2, and most preferably y is 1 and z is 1. In a preferred embodiment, the linker-conjugate is according to the formula Q¹-Sp-(D)₄, Q¹-Sp-(D)₃, Q¹-Sp-(D)₂ or Q¹-Sp-D.

Target Molecule D

Target molecules in the field of bioconjugation are known to the skilled person, and may also be referred to as payload. In a preferred embodiment of the linker-conjugate according to the invention, the target molecule is selected from the group consisting of an active substance, a reporter molecule, a polymer, a solid surface, a hydrogel, a nanoparticle, a microparticle and a biomolecule.

The inventors found that the use of a sulfamide linker according to the invention improves the solubility of the linker-conjugate, which in turn significantly improves the efficiency of the conjugation. Using conventional linkers, effective conjugation is often hampered by the relatively low solubility of the linker-conjugate in aqueous media, especially when a relative water-insoluble or hydrophobic target molecule is used. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the target molecule in its unconjugated form is hydrophobic, typically having a water solubility of at most 1% (w/w), preferably at most 0.1% (w/w), most preferably at most 0.01% (w/w), determined at 20° C. and 100 kPa. Even such water-insoluble target molecules are effectively subjected to conjugation when functionalized with a sulfamide linker according to the invention. Herein, the “unconjugated form” refers to the target molecule not being functionalized with or conjugated to the linker according to the invention. Such unconjugated forms of target molecules are known to the skilled person.

The term “active substance” herein relates to a pharmacological and/or biological substance, i.e. a substance that is biologically and/or pharmaceutically active, for example a drug, a prodrug, a diagnostic agent, a protein, a peptide, a polypeptide, a peptide tag, an amino acid, a glycan, a lipid, a vitamin, a steroid, a nucleotide, a nucleoside, a polynucleotide, RNA or DNA. Examples of peptide tags include cell-penetrating peptides like human lactoferrin or polyarginine. An example of a glycan is oligomannose. An example of an amino acid is lysine.

When the target molecule is an active substance, the active substance is preferably selected from the group consisting of drugs and prodrugs. More preferably, the active substance is selected from the group consisting of pharmaceutically active compounds, in particular low to medium molecular weight compounds (e.g. about 200 to about 2500 Da, preferably about 300 to about 1750 Da). In a further preferred embodiment, the active substance is selected from the group consisting of cytotoxins, antiviral agents, antibacterials agents, peptides and oligonucleotides. Examples of cytotoxins include colchicine, vinca alkaloids, anthracyclines, camptothecins, doxorubicin, daunorubicin, taxanes, calicheamycins, tubulysins, irinotecans, an inhibitory peptide, amanitin, deBouganin, duocarmycins, maytansines, auristatins or pyrrolobenzodiazepines (PBDs). In view of their poor water solubility, preferred active substances include vinca alkaloids, anthracyclines, camptothecins, taxanes, tubulysins, amanitin, duocarmycins, maytansines, auristatins and pyrrolobenzodiazepines, in particular vinca alkaloids, anthracyclines, camptothecins, taxanes, tubulysins, amanitin, maytansines and auristatins.

The term “reporter molecule” herein refers to a molecule whose presence is readily detected, for example a diagnostic agent, a dye, a fluorophore, a radioactive isotope label, a contrast agent, a magnetic resonance imaging agent or a mass label.

A wide variety of fluorophores, also referred to as fluorescent probes, is known to a person skilled in the art. Several fluorophores are described in more detail in e.g. G. T. Hermanson, “Bioconjugate Techniques”, Elsevier, 3^(rd) Ed. 2013, Chapter 10: “Fluorescent probes”, p. 395-463, incorporated by reference. Examples of a fluorophore include all kinds of Alexa Fluor (e.g. Alexa Fluor 555), cyanine dyes (e.g. Cy3 or Cy5) and cyanine dye derivatives, coumarin derivatives, fluorescein and fluorescein derivatives, rhodamine and rhodamine derivatives, boron dipyrromethene derivatives, pyrene derivatives, naphthalimide derivatives, phycobiliprotein derivatives (e.g. allophycocyanin), chromomycin, lanthanide chelates and quantum dot nanocrystals. In view of their poor water solubility, preferred fluorophores include cyanine dyes, coumarin derivatives, fluorescein and derivatives thereof, pyrene derivatives, naphthalimide derivatives, chromomycin, lanthanide chelates and quantum dot nanocrystals, in particular coumarin derivatives, fluorescein, pyrene derivatives and chromomycin.

Examples of a radioactive isotope label include ^(99m)Tc, ¹¹¹In, ¹¹⁴In, ¹¹⁵In, ¹⁸F, ¹⁴C, ⁶⁴Cu, ¹³¹I, ¹²⁵I, ¹²³I, ²¹²Bi, ⁸⁸Y, ⁹⁰Y, ⁶⁷Cu, ¹⁸⁶Rh, ¹⁸⁸Rh, ⁶⁶Ga, ⁶⁷Ga and ¹⁰B, which is optionally connected via a chelating moiety such as e.g. DTPA (diethylenetriaminepentaacetic anhydride), DOTA (1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-N,N′N″,N′″-tetraacetic acid), NOTA (1,4,7-triazacyclononane N,N′,N″-triacetic acid), TETA (1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane-N,N′,N″,N′″tetraacetic acid), DTTA (N¹-(p-isothiocyanatobenzyl)-diethylenetriamine-N¹,N²,N³,N³-tetraacetic acid), deferoxamine or DFA (N′-[5-[[4-[[5-(acetylhydroxyamino)pentyl]amino]-1,4-dioxobutyl]hydroxyamino]pentyl]-N-(5-aminopentyl)-N-hydroxybutanediamide) or HYNIC (hydrazinonicotinamide). Isotopic labelling techniques are known to a person skilled in the art, and are described in more detail in e.g. G. T. Hermanson, “Bioconjugate Techniques”, Elsevier, 3^(rd) Ed. 2013, Chapter 12: “Isotopic labelling techniques”, p. 507-534, incorporated by reference.

Polymers suitable for use as a target molecule D in the compound according to the invention are known to a person skilled in the art, and several examples are described in more detail in e.g. G. T. Hermanson, “Bioconjugate Techniques”, Elsevier, 3^(rd) Ed. 2013, Chapter 18: “PEGylation and synthetic polymer modification”, p. 787-838, incorporated by reference. When target molecule D is a polymer, target molecule D is preferably independently selected from the group consisting of a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), a polyethylene oxide (PEO), a polypropylene glycol (PPG), a polypropylene oxide (PPO), a 1,x-diaminoalkane polymer (wherein x is the number of carbon atoms in the alkane, and preferably x is an integer in the range of 2 to 200, preferably 2 to 10), a (poly)ethylene glycol diamine (e.g. 1,8-diamino-3,6-dioxaoctane and equivalents comprising longer ethylene glycol chains), a polysaccharide (e.g. dextran), a poly(amino acid) (e.g. a poly(L-lysine)) and a poly(vinyl alcohol). In view of their poor water solubility, preferred polymers include a 1,x-diaminoalkane polymer and poly(vinyl alcohol).

Solid surfaces suitable for use as a target molecule D are known to a person skilled in the art. A solid surface is for example a functional surface (e.g. a surface of a nanomaterial, a carbon nanotube, a fullerene or a virus capsid), a metal surface (e.g. a titanium, gold, silver, copper, nickel, tin, rhodium or zinc surface), a metal alloy surface (wherein the alloy is from e.g. aluminium, bismuth, chromium, cobalt, copper, gallium, gold, indium, iron, lead, magnesium, mercury, nickel, potassium, plutonium, rhodium, scandium, silver, sodium, titanium, tin, uranium, zinc and/or zirconium), a polymer surface (wherein the polymer is e.g. polystyrene, polyvinylchloride, polyethylene, polypropylene, poly(dimethylsiloxane) or poly(methylmethacrylate), poly(acrylamide)), a glass surface, a silicone surface, a chromatography support surface (wherein the chromatography support is e.g. a silica support, an agarose support, a cellulose support or an alumina support), etc. When target molecule D is a solid surface, it is preferred that D is independently selected from the group consisting of a functional surface or a polymer surface.

Hydrogels are known to the person skilled in the art. Hydrogels are water-swollen networks, formed by cross-links between the polymeric constituents. See for example A. S. Hoffman, Adv. Drug Delivery Rev. 2012, 64, 18, incorporated by reference. When the target molecule is a hydrogel, it is preferred that the hydrogel is composed of poly(ethylene)glycol (PEG) as the polymeric basis.

Micro- and nanoparticles suitable for use as a target molecule D are known to a person skilled in the art. A variety of suitable micro- and nanoparticles is described in e.g. G. T. Hermanson, “Bioconjugate Techniques”, Elsevier, 3^(rd) Ed. 2013, Chapter 14: “Microparticles and nanoparticles”, p. 549-587, incorporated by reference. The micro- or nanoparticles may be of any shape, e.g. spheres, rods, tubes, cubes, triangles and cones. Preferably, the micro- or nanoparticles are of a spherical shape. The chemical composition of the micro- and nanoparticles may vary. When target molecule D is a micro- or a nanoparticle, the micro- or nanoparticle is for example a polymeric micro- or nanoparticle, a silica micro- or nanoparticle or a gold micro- or nanoparticle. When the particle is a polymeric micro- or nanoparticle, the polymer is preferably polystyrene or a copolymer of styrene (e.g. a copolymer of styrene and divinylbenzene, butadiene, acrylate and/or vinyltoluene), poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA), poly(vinyltoluene), poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) p(HEMA) or poly(ethylene glycol dimethacrylate/2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate) p(EDGMA/HEMA). Optionally, the surface of the micro- or nanoparticles is modified, e.g. with detergents, by graft polymerization of secondary polymers or by covalent attachment of another polymer or of spacer moieties, etc.

Target molecule D may also be a biomolecule. Biomolecules, and preferred embodiments thereof, are described in more detail below. When target molecule D is a biomolecule, it is preferred that the biomolecule is selected from the group consisting of proteins (including glycoproteins and antibodies), polypeptides, peptides, glycans, lipids, nucleic acids, oligonucleotides, polysaccharides, oligosaccharides, enzymes, hormones, amino acids and monosaccharides.

Reactive Moiety Q¹

The linker-conjugate according to the invention comprises a reactive group Q¹ that is capable of reacting with a functional group F¹ present on a biomolecule. Functional groups are known to a person skilled in the art and may be defined as any molecular entity that imparts a specific property onto the molecule harbouring it. For example, a functional group in a biomolecule may constitute an amino group, a thiol group, a carboxylic acid, an alcohol group, a carbonyl group, a phosphate group, or an aromatic group. The functional group in the biomolecule may be naturally present or may be placed in the biomolecule by a specific technique, for example a (bio)chemical or a genetic technique. The functional group that is placed in the biomolecule may be a functional group that is naturally present in nature, or may be a functional group that is prepared by chemical synthesis, for example an azide, a terminal alkyne or a phosphine moiety. Herein, the term “reactive group” may refer to a certain group that comprises a functional group, but also to a functional group itself. For example, a cyclooctynyl group is a reactive group comprising a functional group, namely a C—C triple bond. Similarly, an N-maleimidyl group is a reactive group, comprising a C—C double bond as a functional group. However, a functional group, for example an azido functional group, a thiol functional group or an amino functional group, may herein also be referred to as a reactive group.

The linker-conjugate may comprise more than one reactive group Q¹. When the linker-conjugate comprises two or more reactive groups Q¹, the reactive groups Q¹ may differ from each other. Preferably, the linker-conjugate comprises one reactive group Q¹.

Reactive group Q¹ that is present in the linker-conjugate, is able to react with a functional group F¹ that is present in a biomolecule. In other words, reactive group Q¹ needs to be complementary to a functional group F¹ present in a biomolecule. Herein, a reactive group is denoted as “complementary” to a functional group when said reactive group reacts with said functional group selectively, optionally in the presence of other functional groups. Complementary reactive and functional groups are known to a person skilled in the art, and are described in more detail below. Preferably, reactive group Q¹ and functional group F1 are capable of reacting in a bioorthogonal reaction, as those reactions do not interfere with the biomolecules present during this reaction. Bioorthogonal reactions and functional groups suitable therein are known to the skilled person, for example from Gong and Pan, Tetrahedron Lett. 2015, 56, 2123-2132, and include Staudinger ligations and copper-free Click chemistry. It is thus preferred that Q¹ is selected from the group consisting of 1,3-dipoles, alkynes, (hetero)cyclooctynes, cyclooctenes, tetrazines, ketones, aldehydes, alkoxyamines, hydrazines and triphenylphosphine. In a preferred embodiment, reactive group Q¹ is selected from the group consisting of, optionally substituted, N-maleimidyl groups, halogenated N-alkylamido groups, sulfonyloxy N-alkylamido groups, ester groups, carbonate groups, sulfonyl halide groups, thiol groups or derivatives thereof, alkenyl groups, alkynyl groups, (hetero)cycloalkynyl groups, bicyclo[6.1.0]non-4-yn-9-yl] groups, cycloalkenyl groups, tetrazinyl groups, azido groups, phosphine groups, nitrile oxide groups, nitrone groups, nitrile imine groups, diazo groups, ketone groups, (O-alkyl)hydroxylamino groups, hydrazine groups, halogenated N-maleimidyl groups, 1,1-bis(sulfonylmethyl)methylcarbonyl groups or elimination derivatives thereof, carbonyl halide groups, allenamide groups, 1,2-quinone groups or triazine groups.

In a preferred embodiment, Q¹ is an N-maleimidyl group. When Q¹ is an N-maleimidyl group, Q¹ is preferably unsubstituted. Q¹ is thus preferably according to formula (9a), as shown below. Suitable maleimidyl moieties include diaminopropionyl maleimdyl moieties. A preferred example of such a maleimidyl group is 2,3-diaminopropionic acid (DPR) maleimidyl, which may be connected to the remainder of the linker-conjugate through the carboxylic acid moiety or the remaining amine moiety.

In another preferred embodiment, Q¹ is a halogenated N-alkylamido group. When Q¹ is a halogenated N-alkylamido group, it is preferred that Q¹ is according to formula (9b), as shown below, wherein k is an integer in the range of 1 to 10 and R⁴ is selected from the group consisting of —Cl, —Br and —I. Preferably k is 1, 2, 3 or 4, more preferably k is 1 or 2 and most preferably k is 1. Preferably, R⁴ is —I or —Br. More preferably, k is 1 or 2 and R⁴ is —I or —Br, and most preferably k is 1 and R⁴ is —I or Br.

In another preferred embodiment, Q¹ is a sulfonyloxy N-alkylamido group. When Q¹ is a sulfonyloxy N-alkylamido group, it is preferred that Q¹ is according to formula (9b), as shown below, wherein k is an integer in the range of 1 to 10 and R⁴ is selected from the group consisting of —O-mesyl, —O-phenylsulfonyl and —O-tosyl. Preferably k is 1, 2, 3 or 4, more preferably k is 1 or 2, even more preferably k is 1. Most preferably k is 1 and R⁴ is selected from the group consisting of —O-mesyl, —O-phenylsulfonyl and —O-tosyl.

In another preferred embodiment, Q¹ is an ester group. When Q¹ is an ester group, it is preferred that the ester group is an activated ester group. Activated ester groups are known to the person skilled in the art. An activated ester group is herein defined as an ester group comprising a good leaving group, wherein the ester carbonyl group is bonded to said good leaving group. Good leaving groups are known to the person skilled in the art. It is further preferred that the activated ester is according to formula (9c), as shown below, wherein R⁵ is selected from the group consisting of —N-succinimidyl (NHS), —N-sulfo-succinimidyl (sulfo-NHS), -(4-nitrophenyl), -pentafluorophenyl or -tetrafluorophenyl (TFP).

In another preferred embodiment, Q¹ is a carbonate group. When Q¹ is a carbonate group, it is preferred that the carbonate group is an activated carbonate group. Activated carbonate groups are known to a person skilled in the art. An activated carbonate group is herein defined as a carbonate group comprising a good leaving group, wherein the carbonate carbonyl group is bonded to said good leaving group. It is further preferred that the carbonate group is according to formula (9d), as shown below, wherein R⁷ is selected from the group consisting of —N— succinimidyl, —N-sulfo-succinimidyl, -(4-nitrophenyl), -pentafluorophenyl or -tetrafluorophenyl.

In another preferred embodiment, Q¹ is a sulfonyl halide group according to formula (9e) as shown below, wherein X is selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br and I. Preferably X is C₁ or Br, more preferably Cl.

In another preferred embodiment, Q¹ is a thiol group (9f), or a derivative or a precursor of a thiol group. A thiol group may also be referred to as a mercapto group. When Q¹ is a derivative or a precursor of a thiol group, the thiol derivative is preferably according to formula (9g), (9h) or (9zb) as shown below, wherein R⁸ is an, optionally substituted, C₁-C₁₂ alkyl group or a C₂-C₁₂ (hetero)aryl group, V is O or S and R¹⁶ is an, optionally substituted, C₁-C₁₂ alkyl group. More preferably R⁸ is an, optionally substituted, C₁-C₆ alkyl group or a C₂-C₆ (hetero)aryl group, and even more preferably R⁸ is methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, i-propyl, n-butyl, s-butyl, t-butyl or phenyl. Even more preferably, R⁸ is methyl or phenyl, most preferably methyl. More preferably R¹⁶ is an optionally substituted C₁-C₆ alkyl group, and even more preferably R¹⁶ is methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, i-propyl, n-butyl, s-butyl or t-butyl, most preferably methyl. When Q¹ is a thiol-derivative according to formula (9g) or (9zb), and Q¹ is reacted with a reactive group F¹ on a biomolecule, said thiol-derivative needs to be converted into a thiol group during the process. When Q¹ is according to formula (9h), Q¹ is —SC(O)OR⁸ or —SC(S)OR⁸, preferably SC(O)OR⁸, wherein R⁸, and preferred embodiments thereof, are as defined above.

In another preferred embodiment, Q¹ is an alkenyl group, wherein the alkenyl group is linear or branched, and wherein the alkenyl group is optionally substituted. The alkenyl group may be a terminal or an internal alkenyl group. The alkenyl group may comprise more than one C—C double bond, and if so, preferably comprises two C—C double bonds. When the alkenyl group is a dienyl group, it is further preferred that the two C—C double bonds are separated by one C—C single bond (i.e. it is preferred that the dienyl group is a conjugated dienyl group). Preferably said alkenyl group is a C₂-C₂₄ alkenyl group, more preferably a C₂-C₁₂ alkenyl group, and even more preferably a C₂-C₆ alkenyl group. It is further preferred that the alkenyl group is a terminal alkenyl group. More preferably, the alkenyl group is according to formula (9i) as shown below, wherein l is an integer in the range of 0 to 10, preferably in the range of 0 to 6, and p is an integer in the range of 0 to 10, preferably 0 to 6. More preferably, l is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4, more preferably l is 0, 1 or 2 and most preferably l is 0 or 1. More preferably, p is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4, more preferably p is 0, 1 or 2 and most preferably p is 0 or 1. It is particularly preferred that p is 0 and l is 0 or 1, or that p is 1 and l is 0 or 1.

In another preferred embodiment, Q¹ is an alkynyl group, wherein the alkynyl group is linear or branched, and wherein the alkynyl group is optionally substituted. The alkynyl group may be a terminal or an internal alkynyl group. Preferably said alkynyl group is a C₂-C₂₄ alkynyl group, more preferably a C₂-C₁₂ alkynyl group, and even more preferably a C₂-C₆ alkynyl group. It is further preferred that the alkynyl group is a terminal alkynyl group. More preferably, the alkynyl group is according to formula (9j) as shown below, wherein l is an integer in the range of 0 to 10, preferably in the range of 0 to 6. More preferably, l is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4, more preferably l is 0, 1 or 2 and most preferably l is 0 or 1.

In another preferred embodiment, Q¹ is a cycloalkenyl group. The cycloalkenyl group is optionally substituted. Preferably said cycloalkenyl group is a C₃-C₂₄ cycloalkenyl group, more preferably a C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkenyl group, and even more preferably a C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl group. In a preferred embodiment, the cycloalkenyl group is a trans-cycloalkenyl group, more preferably a trans-cyclooctenyl group (also referred to as a TCO group) and most preferably a trans-cyclooctenyl group according to formula (9zi) or (9zj) as shown below. In another preferred embodiment, the cycloalkenyl group is a cyclopropenyl group, wherein the cyclopropenyl group is optionally substituted. In another preferred embodiment, the cycloalkenyl group is a norbornenyl group, an oxanorbornenyl group, a norbornadienyl group or an oxanorbornadienyl group, wherein the norbornenyl group, oxanorbornenyl group, norbornadienyl group or an oxanorbornadienyl group is optionally substituted. In a further preferred embodiment, the cycloalkenyl group is according to formula (9k), (9l), (9m) or (9zc) as shown below, wherein T is CH₂ or O, R⁹ is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, a linear or branched C₁-C₁₂ alkyl group or a C₄-C₁₂ (hetero)aryl group, and R¹⁹ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and fluorinated hydrocarbons. Preferably, R⁹ is independently hydrogen or a C₁-C₆ alkyl group, more preferably R⁹ is independently hydrogen or a C₁-C₄ alkyl group. Even more preferably R⁹ is independently hydrogen or methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, i-propyl, n-butyl, s-butyl or t-butyl. Yet even more preferably R⁹ is independently hydrogen or methyl. In a further preferred embodiment, R¹⁹ is selected from the group of hydrogen and —CF₃, —C₂F₅, —C₃F₇ and —C₄F₉, more preferably hydrogen and —CF₃. In a further preferred embodiment, the cycloalkenyl group is according to formula (9k), wherein one R⁹ is hydrogen and the other R₉ is a methyl group. In another further preferred embodiment, the cycloalkenyl group is according to formula (9l), wherein both R⁹ are hydrogen. In these embodiments it is further preferred that l is 0 or 1. In another further preferred embodiment, the cycloalkenyl group is a norbornenyl (T is CH₂) or an oxanorbornenyl (T is O) group according to formula (9m), or a norbornadienyl (T is CH₂) or an oxanorbornadienyl (T is O) group according to formula (9zc), wherein R⁹ is hydrogen and R¹⁹ is hydrogen or —CF₃, preferably —CF₃.

In another preferred embodiment, Q¹ is a (hetero)cycloalkynyl group. The (hetero)cycloalkynyl group is optionally substituted. Preferably, the (hetero)cycloalkynyl group is a (hetero)cyclooctynyl group, i.e. a heterocyclooctynyl group or a cyclooctynyl group, wherein the (hetero)cyclooctynyl group is optionally substituted. In a further preferred embodiment, the (hetero)cyclooctynyl group is according to formula (9n), also referred to as a DIBO group, (9o), also referred to as a DIBAC group or (9p), also referred to as a BARAC group, or (9zk), also referred to as a COMBO group, all as shown below, wherein U is O or NR⁹, and preferred embodiments of R⁹ are as defined above. The aromatic rings in (9n) are optionally O-sulfonylated at one or more positions, whereas the rings of (9o) and (9p) may be halogenated at one or more positions.

In an especially preferred embodiment, the nitrogen atom attached to R¹ in compound (4b) is the nitrogen atom in the ring of the heterocycloalkyne group such as the nitrogen atom in (9o). In other words, c, d and g are 0 in compound (4b) and R¹ and Q¹, together with the nitrogen atom they are attached to, form a heterocycloalkyne group, preferably a heterocyclooctyne group, most preferably the heterocyclooctyne group according to formula (9o) or (9p). Herein, the carbonyl moiety of (9o) is replaced by the sulfonyl group of the group according to formula (1). Alternatively, the nitrogen atom to which R¹ is attached is the same atom as the atom designated as U in formula (9n). In other words, when Q¹ is according to formula (9n), U may be the right nitrogen atom of the group according to formula (1), or U═NR⁹ and R⁹ is the remainder of the group according to formula (1) and R¹ is the cyclooctyne moiety.

In another preferred embodiment, Q¹ is an, optionally substituted, bicyclo[6.1.0]non-4-yn-9-yl]group, also referred to as a BCN group. Preferably, the bicyclo[6.1.0]non-4-yn-9-yl] group is according to formula (9q) as shown below.

In another preferred embodiment, Q¹ is a conjugated (hetero)diene group capable of reacting in a Diels-Alder reaction. Preferred (hetero)diene groups include optionally substituted tetrazinyl groups, optionally substituted 1,2-quinone groups and optionally substituted triazine groups. More preferably, said tetrazinyl group is according to formula (9r), as shown below, wherein R⁹ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, a linear or branched C₁-C₁₂ alkyl group or a C₄-C₁₂ (hetero)aryl group. Preferably, R⁹ is hydrogen, a C₁-C₆ alkyl group or a C₄-C₁₀ (hetero)aryl group, more preferably R⁹ is hydrogen, a C₁-C₄ alkyl group or a C₄-C₆ (hetero)aryl group. Even more preferably R⁹ is hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, i-propyl, n-butyl, s-butyl, t-butyl or pyridyl. Yet even more preferably R⁹ is hydrogen, methyl or pyridyl. More preferably, said 1,2-quinone group is according to formula (9zl) or (9zm). Said triazine group may be any regioisomer. More preferably, said triazine group is a 1,2,3-triazine group or a 1,2,4-triazine group, which may be attached via any possible location, such as indicated in formula (9zn). The 1,2,3-triazine is most preferred as triazine group.

In another preferred embodiment, Q¹ is an azido group according to formula (9s) as shown below. In another preferred embodiment, Q¹ is an, optionally substituted, triarylphosphine group that is suitable to undergo a Staudinger ligation reaction. Preferably, the phosphine group is according to formula (9t) as shown below, wherein R¹⁰ is a (thio)ester group. When R¹⁰ is a (thio)ester group, it is preferred that R¹⁰ is —C(O)—V—R¹¹, wherein V is O or S and R¹¹ is a C₁-C₁₂ alkyl group. Preferably, R¹¹ is a C₁-C₆ alkyl group, more preferably a C₁-C₄ alkyl group. Most preferably, R¹¹ is a methyl group.

In another preferred embodiment, Q¹ is a nitrile oxide group according to formula (9u) as shown below.

In another preferred embodiment, Q¹ is a nitrone group. Preferably, the nitrone group is according to formula (9v) as shown below, wherein R¹² is selected from the group consisting of linear or branched C₁-C₁₂ alkyl groups and C₆-C₁₂ aryl groups. Preferably, R¹² is a C₁-C₆ alkyl group, more preferably R¹² is a C₁-C₄ alkyl group. Even more preferably R¹² is methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, i-propyl, n-butyl, s-butyl or t-butyl. Yet even more preferably R¹² is methyl.

In another preferred embodiment, Q¹ is a nitrile imine group. Preferably, the nitrile imine group is according to formula (9w) or (9zd) as shown below, wherein R¹³ is selected from the group consisting of linear or branched C₁-C₁₂ alkyl groups and C₆-C₁₂ aryl groups. Preferably, R¹³ is a C₁-C₆ alkyl group, more preferably R¹³ is a C₁-C₄ alkyl group. Even more preferably R¹³ is methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, i-propyl, n-butyl, s-butyl or t-butyl. Yet even more preferably R¹³ is methyl.

In another preferred embodiment, Q¹ is a diazo group. Preferably, the diazo group is according to formula (9x) as shown below, wherein R¹⁴ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen or a carbonyl derivative. More preferably, R¹⁴ is hydrogen.

In another preferred embodiment, Q¹ is a ketone group. More preferably, the ketone group is according to formula (9y) as shown below, wherein R¹⁵ is selected from the group consisting of linear or branched C₁-C₁₂ alkyl groups and C₆-C₁₂ aryl groups. Preferably, R¹⁵ is a C₁-C₆ alkyl group, more preferably R¹⁵ is a C₁-C₄ alkyl group. Even more preferably R¹⁵ is methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, i-propyl, n-butyl, s-butyl or t-butyl. Yet even more preferably R¹⁵ is methyl.

In another preferred embodiment, Q¹ is an (O-alkyl)hydroxylamino group. More preferably, the (O-alkyl)hydroxylamino group is according to formula (9z) as shown below.

In another preferred embodiment, Q¹ is a hydrazine group. Preferably, the hydrazine group is according to formula (9za) as shown below.

In another preferred embodiment, Q¹ is a halogenated N-maleimidyl group or a sulfonylated N-maleimidyl group. When Q¹ is a halogenated or sulfonylated N-maleimidyl group, Q¹ is preferably according to formula (9ze) as shown below, wherein R⁶ is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen F, Cl, Br, I, —SR^(18a) and —OS(O)₂R^(18b), wherein R^(18a) is an optionally substituted C₄-C₁₂ (hetero)aryl groups, preferably phenyl or pyrydyl, and R^(18b) is selected from the group consisting of, optionally substituted, C₁-C₁₂ alkyl groups and C₄-C₁₂ (hetero)aryl groups, preferably tolyl or methyl, and with the proviso that at least one R⁶ is not hydrogen. When R⁶ is halogen (i.e. when R⁶ is F, Cl, Br or I), it is preferred that R⁶ is Br. In one embodiment, the halogenated N-maleimidyl group is halogenated 2,3-diaminopropionic acid (DPR) maleimidyl, which may be connected to the remainder of the linker-conjugate through the carboxylic acid moiety or the remaining amine moiety.

In another preferred embodiment, Q¹ is a carbonyl halide group according to formula (9zf) as shown below, wherein X is selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br and I. Preferably, X is Cl or Br, and most preferably, X is C₁.

In another preferred embodiment, Q¹ is an allenamide group according to formula (9zg).

In another preferred embodiment, Q¹ is a 1,1-bis(sulfonylmethyl)methylcarbonyl group according to formula (9zh), or an elimination derivative thereof, wherein R¹⁸ is selected from the group consisting of, optionally substituted, C₁-C₁₂ alkyl groups and C₄-C₁₂ (hetero)aryl groups. More preferably, R₁₈ is an, optionally substituted, C₁-C₆ alkyl group or a C₄-C₆ (hetero)aryl group, and most preferably a phenyl group.

wherein k, l, X, T, U, V, R⁴, R⁵, R⁶, R⁷, R⁸, R⁹, R¹⁰, R¹¹, R¹², R¹³, R¹⁴, R¹⁵, R¹⁶, R¹⁷, R¹⁸ and R¹⁹ are as defined above.

In a preferred embodiment of the conjugation process according to the invention as described hereinbelow, conjugation is accomplished via a cycloaddition, such as a Diels-Alder reaction or a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition, preferably the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition. According to this embodiment, the reactive group Q¹ (as well as F¹ on the biomolecule) is selected from groups reactive in a cycloaddition reaction. Herein, reactive groups Q¹ and F¹ are complementary, i.e. they are capable of reacting with each other in a cycloaddition reaction.

For a Diels-Alder reaction, one of F¹ and Q¹ is a diene and the other of F¹ and Q¹ is a dienophile. As appreciated by the skilled person, the term “diene” in the context of the Diels-Alder reaction refers to 1,3-(hetero)dienes, and includes conjugated dienes (R₂C═CR—CR═CR₂), imines (e.g. R₂C═CR—N═CR₂ or R₂C═CR—CR═NR, R₂C═N—N═CR₂) and carbonyls (e.g. R₂C═CR—CR═O or O═CR—CR═O). Hetero-Diels-Alder reactions with N- and O-containing dienes are known in the art. Any diene known in the art to be suitable for Diels-Alder reactions may be used as reactive group Q¹ or F¹. Preferred dienes include tetrazines as described above, 1,2-quinones as described above and triazines as described above. Although any dienophile known in the art to be suitable for Diels-Alder reactions may be used as reactive groups Q¹ or F¹, the dienophile is preferably an alkene or alkyne group as described above, most preferably an alkyne group. For conjugation via a Diels-Alder reaction, it is preferred that F¹ is the diene and Q¹ is the dienophile. Herein, when Q¹ is a diene, F¹ is a dienophile and when Q¹ is a dienophile, F¹ is a diene. Most preferably, Q¹ is a dienophile, preferably Q¹ is or comprises an alkynyl group, and F¹ is a diene, preferably a tetrazine, 1,2-quinone or triazine group.

For a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition, one of F¹ and Q¹ is a 1,3-dipole and the other of F¹ and Q¹ is a dipolarophile. Any 1,3-dipole known in the art to be suitable for 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions may be used as reactive group Q¹ or F¹. Preferred 1,3-dipoles include azido groups, nitrone groups, nitrile oxide groups, nitrile imine groups and diazo groups. Although any dipolarophile known in the art to be suitable for 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions may be used as reactive groups Q¹ or F¹, the dipolarophile is preferably an alkene or alkyne group, most preferably an alkyne group. For conjugation via a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition, it is preferred that F¹ is the 1,3-dipole and Q¹ is the dipolarophile. Herein, when Q¹ is a 1,3-dipole, F¹ is a dipolarophile and when Q¹ is a dipolarophile, F¹ is a 1,3-dipole. Most preferably, Q¹ is a dipolarophile, preferably Q¹ is or comprises an alkynyl group, and F¹ is a 1,3-dipole, preferably an azido group.

Thus, in a preferred embodiment, Q¹ is selected from dipolarophiles and dienophiles. Preferably, Q¹ is an alkene or an alkyne group. In an especially preferred embodiment, Q¹ comprises an alkyne group, preferably selected from the alkynyl group as described above, the cycloalkenyl group as described above, the (hetero)cycloalkynyl group as described above and a bicyclo[6.1.0]non-4-yn-9-yl] group, more preferably Q¹ is selected from the formulae (9j), (9n), (9o), (9p), (9q) and (9zk), as defined above and depicted below, more preferably selected from the formulae (9n), (9o), (9p), (9q) and (9zk). Most preferably, Q¹ is a bicyclo[6.1.0]non-4-yn-9-yl]group, preferably of formula (9q). These groups are known to be highly effective in the conjugation with azido-functionalized biomolecules as described herein, and when the sulfamide linker according to the invention is employed in such linker-conjugates and bioconjugates, any aggregation is beneficially reduced to a minimum. The sulfamide linker according to the invention provides a significant reduction in aggregation especially for such hydrophobic reactive groups of Q¹, and for the conjugated bioconjugates.

As was described above, in the compound according to the invention, Q¹ is capable of reacting with a reactive group F¹ that is present on a biomolecule. Complementary reactive groups F¹ for reactive group Q¹ are known to a person skilled in the art, and are described in more detail below. Some representative examples of reaction between F¹ and Q¹ and their corresponding products are depicted in FIG. 6.

As described above, D and Q¹ are covalently attached in the linker-conjugate according to the invention, via the linker as defined above. Covalent attachment of D to the linker may occur for example via reaction of a functional group F² present on D with a reactive group Q² present on the linker. Suitable organic reactions for the attachment of D to a linker are known to a person skilled in the art, as are functional groups F² that are complementary to a reactive group Q². Consequently, D may be attached to the linker via a connecting group Z.

The term “connecting group” herein refers to the structural element, e.g. resulting from the reaction between Q and F, connecting one part of a compound and another part of the same compound. As will be understood by the person skilled in the art, the nature of a connecting group depends on the type of organic reaction with which the connection between the parts of said compound was obtained. As an example, when the carboxyl group of R—C(O)—OH is reacted with the amino group of H₂N—R′ to form R—C(O)—N(H)—R′, R is connected to R′ via connecting group Z, and Z may be represented by the group —C(O)—N(H)—.

Reactive group Q¹ may be attached to the linker in a similar manner. Consequently, Q¹ may be attached to the spacer-moiety via a connecting group Z.

Numerous reactions are known in the art for the attachment of an active substance to a linker, and for the attachment of a reactive group Q¹ to a linker. Consequently, a wide variety of connecting groups Z may be present in the first precursor. In one embodiment, the reactive group Q² is selected from the options for reactive group Q¹ and preferred embodiments thereof, as defined hereinabove, preferably as depicted in FIG. 6. Complementary functional groups F² and the thus obtained connecting groups Z are known to a person skilled in the art and disclosed herein.

Preferred Linker-Conjugates

The linker-conjugate according to the invention may also be represented by the formula:

(Q¹)_(y)-(Z^(w))-Sp-(Z^(x))-(D)z

wherein:

-   -   y is an integer in the range of 1 to 10, preferably in the range         1-5, more preferably y=1;     -   z is an integer in the range of 1 to 10, preferably in the range         1-5;     -   Q¹ is a reactive group as defined hereinabove;     -   D is a target molecule as defined hereinabove;     -   Sp is a spacer moiety, wherein a spacer moiety is defined as a         moiety that spaces (i.e. provides a certain distance between)         and covalently links reactive group Q¹ and target molecule D,         wherein said spacer moiety comprises the linker according to the         invention as defined above;     -   Z^(w) is a connecting group connecting reactive group Q¹ to said         spacer moiety; and     -   Z^(x) is a connecting group connecting target molecule D to said         spacer moiety.

Preferred embodiments for y and z are as defined above for (Q¹)_(y)-Sp-(D)_(z). Preferred embodiments for D and Q¹ are as defined above. It is further preferred that the compound is according to the formula Q¹-(Z^(w))-Sp-(Z^(x))-(D)₄, Q¹-(Z^(w))-Sp-(Z^(x))-(D)₃, Q¹-(Z^(w))-Sp-(Z^(x))-(D)₂ or Q¹-(Z^(w))-Sp-(Z^(x))-D, more preferably Q¹-(Z^(w))-Sp-(Z^(x))-(D)₂ or Q¹-(Z^(w))-Sp-(Z^(x))-D and most preferably Q¹-(Z^(w))-Sp-(Z^(x))-D, wherein Z^(w) and Z^(x) are as defined above.

Preferably, Z^(w) and Z^(x) are independently selected from the group consisting of —O—, —S—, —NR²—, —N═N—, —C(O)—, —C(O)—NR²—, —O—C(O)—, —O—C(O)—O—, —O—C(O)—NR², —NR²—C(O)—, —NR²—C(O)—O—, —NR²—C(O)—NR²—, —S—C(O)—, —S—C(O)—O—, —S—C(O)—NR²—, —S(O)—, —S(O)₂—, —O—S(O)₂—, —O—S(O)₂—O—, —O—S(O)₂—NR²—, —O—S(O)—, —O—S(O)—O—, —O—S(O)—NR²—, —O—NR²—C(O)—, —O—NR²—C(O)—O—, —O—NR²—C(O)—NR²—, —NR²—O—C(O)—, —NR²—O—C(O)—O—, —NR²—O—C(O)—NR²—, —O—NR²—C(S)—, —O—NR²—C(S)—O—, —O—NR²—C(S)—NR²—, —NR²—O—C(S)—, —NR²—O—C(S)—O—, —NR²—O—C(S)—NR²—, —O—C(S)—, —O—C(S)—O—, —O—C(S)—NR²—, —NR²—C(S)—, —NR²—C(S)—O—, —NR²—C(S)—NR²—, —S—S(O)₂—, —S—S(O)₂—O—, —S—S(O)₂—NR²—, —NR²—O—S(O)—, —NR²—O—S(O)—O—, —NR²—O—S(O)—NR²—, —NR²—O—S(O)₂—, —NR²—O—S(O)₂—O—, —NR²—O—S(O)₂—NR²—, —O—NR²—S(O)—, —O—NR²—S(O)—O—, —O—NR²—S(O)—NR²—, —O—NR²—S(O)₂—O—, —O—NR²—S(O)₂—NR²—, —O—NR²—S(O)₂—, —O—P(O)(R²)₂—, —S—P(O)(R²)₂—, —NR²—P(O)(R²)₂— and combinations of two or more thereof, wherein R² is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C₁-C₂₄ alkyl groups, C₂-C₂₄ alkenyl groups, C₂-C₂₄ alkynyl groups and C₃-C₂₄ cycloalkyl groups, the alkyl groups, alkenyl groups, alkynyl groups and cycloalkyl groups being optionally substituted.

The linker-conjugate according to the invention may also be represented by formula (4):

Herein:

-   -   BM is a branching moiety as defined above;     -   E is a capping group as defined above;     -   SG is a sulfamide group according to formula (1), wherein a and         R¹ are as defined above;     -   D is a target molecule as defined above;     -   Q¹ is a reactive group as defined above;     -   b is independently 0 or 1;     -   c is 0 or 1;     -   d is 0 or 1;     -   e is 0 or 1;     -   f is an integer in the range of 1 to 10;     -   g is 0 or 1;     -   i is 0 or 1;     -   k is 0 or 1;     -   l is 0 or 1;     -   Sp¹ is a spacer moiety;     -   Sp² is a spacer moiety;     -   Sp³ is a spacer moiety;     -   Sp⁴ is a spacer moiety;     -   Sp⁵ is a spacer moiety;     -   Sp⁶ is a spacer moiety;     -   Z¹ is a connecting group that connects Q¹ or Sp³ to Sp² or BM;         and     -   Z² is a connecting group that connects D or Sp⁴ to Sp¹ or BM.

Definitions and preferred embodiments for each of BM, E, SG, b, c, d, e, f, g, i, k, l, Sp¹, Sp², Sp³, Sp⁴, Sp⁵, Sp⁶, Z¹ and Z² are given above for the linker, and also apply to the linker-conjugate according to structure (4). Definitions and preferred embodiments for each of Q¹ and BM are given above, and also apply to the linker-conjugate according to structure (4).

Especially preferred linker-conjugates are represented by the structures by any of the structures (34)-(39):

In structures (34)-(39), n and m are individually 0-20, preferably 0-5, most preferably 0 or 1, and Q¹, D and E are as defined above. In one embodiment, the linker-conjugate is represented by structure (34), wherein n=0 (corresponding to compound 32 as prepared in Example 9).

The invention further concerns the use of a linker-conjugate according to the invention for the preparation of a bioconjugate according to the invention. Such a process for the preparation is typically referred to as “bioconjugation” or a “bioconjugation reaction”, and is further defined below.

Linker-Construct

In the context of the present invention, “linker-construct” refers to a compound wherein a reactive group Q¹ is covalently connected to a reactive group Q² via a linker according to the invention, comprising a branching moiety BM and a sulfamide group SG. In other words, the linker-construct is a compound wherein a reactive group Q² is covalently connected to a reactive group Q¹, via a linker. In a second aspect, the invention concerns linker-constructs as defined herein. The linker-construct according to the invention comprises the linker according to the invention as defined above, preferably the linker according to structure (2).

A linker-construct comprises a reactive group Q¹ capable of reacting with a reactive group F¹ present on a biomolecule, and a reactive group Q² capable of reacting with a reactive group F² present on a target molecule. Q¹ and Q² may be the same, or different. A linker-construct may comprise more than one reactive group Q¹ and/or more than one reactive group Q². When more than one reactive groups Q¹ are present the groups Q¹ may be the same or different, and when more than one reactive groups Q² are present the groups Q² may be the same or different.

The linker-construct according to the invention may be denoted as (Q¹)_(y)-Sp-(Q²)_(z), wherein y is an integer in the range of 1 to 10 and z is an integer in the range of 1 to 10.

The invention thus also relates to a linker-construct according to the formula (Q¹)_(y)-Sp-(Q²)_(z), wherein:

-   -   y is an integer in the range of 1 to 10, preferably in the range         1-5, more preferably y=1;     -   z is an integer in the range of 1 to 10, preferably in the range         1-5;     -   Q¹ is a reactive group as defined hereinabove;     -   Q² is a reactive group capable of reacting with a functional         group F² present on a target molecule;     -   Sp is a spacer moiety, wherein a spacer moiety is defined as a         moiety that spaces (i.e. provides a certain distance between)         and covalently links reactive group Q¹ and target molecule Q²,         wherein said spacer moiety comprises the linker according to the         invention as defined above.

Preferably, y is 1, 2, 3 or 4, more preferably y is 1 or 2 and most preferably, y is 1. Preferably, z is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, more preferably z is 1, 2, 3 or 4, even more preferably z is 1, 2 or 3, yet even more preferably z is 1 or 2 and most preferably z is 1. More preferably, y is 1 or 2, preferably 1, and z is 1, 2, 3 or 4, yet even more preferably y is 1 or 2, preferably 1, and z is 1, 2 or 3, yet even more preferably y is 1 or 2, preferably 1, and z is 1 or 2, and most preferably y is 1 and z is 1. In a preferred embodiment, the linker-construct is according to the formula Q¹-Sp-(Q²)₄, Q¹-Sp-(Q²)₃, Q¹-Sp-(Q²)₂ or Q¹-Sp-Q².

More particular, the linker-construct according to the invention may be represented by the formula: (Q¹)_(y)-(Z^(w))—Sp-(Z)_(Q²)_(z), wherein:

-   -   y is an integer in the range of 1 to 10, preferably in the range         1-5, more preferably y=1;     -   z is an integer in the range of 1 to 10, preferably in the range         1-5;     -   Q¹ is a reactive group as defined hereinabove;     -   Q² is a reactive group capable of reacting with a functional         group F² present on a target molecule;     -   Sp is a spacer moiety, wherein a spacer moiety is defined as a         moiety that spaces (i.e. provides a certain distance between)         and covalently links reactive group Q¹ and reactive group Q²,         wherein said spacer moiety comprises the linker according to the         invention as defined above;     -   Z is a connecting group connecting reactive group Q¹ to said         spacer moiety; and     -   Z^(x) is a connecting group connecting reactive group Q² to said         spacer moiety.

Preferred embodiments for y and z are as defined above for (Q¹)_(y)-Sp-(Q²)_(z). It is further preferred that the compound is according to the formula Q¹-(Z^(w))-Sp-(Z^(x))-(Q²)₄, Q¹-(Z^(w))-Sp-(Z^(x))-(Q²)₃, Q¹-(Z^(w))-Sp-(Z^(x))-(Q²)₂ or Q¹-(Z^(w))-Sp-(Z^(x))-Q², more preferably Q¹-(Z^(w))-Sp-(Z^(x))-(Q²)₂ or Q¹-(Z^(w))-Sp-(Z^(x))-Q² and most preferably Q¹-(Z^(w))-Sp-(Z^(x))-Q², wherein Z^(w) and Z^(x) are as defined above.

In the linker compound according to the invention, Z^(w) and Z^(x) are preferably independently selected from the group consisting of —O—, —S—, —NR²—, —N═N—, —C(O)—, —C(O)—NR²—, —O—C(O)—, —O—C(O)—O—, —O—C(O)—NR², —NR²—C(O)—, —NR²—C(O)—O—, —NR²—C(O)—NR²—, —S—C(O)—, —S—C(O)—O—, —S—C(O)—NR²—, —S(O)—, —S(O)₂—, —O—S(O)₂—, —O—S(O)₂—O—, —O—S(O)₂—NR²—, —O—S(O)—, —O—S(O)—O—, —O—S(O)—NR²—, —O—NR²—C(O)—, —O—NR²⁻C(O)—O—, —O—NR²—C(O)—NR²—, —NR²—O—C(O)—, —NR²—O—C(O)—O—, —NR²—O—C(O)—NR²—, —O—NR²—C(S)—, —O—NR²—C(S)—O—, —O—NR²—C(S)—NR²—, —NR²—O—C(S)—, —NR²—O—C(S)—O—, —NR²—O—C(S)—NR²—, —O—C(S)—, —O—C(S)—O—, —O—C(S)—NR²—, —NR²—C(S)—, —NR²—C(S)—O—, —NR²—C(S)—NR²—, —S—S(O)₂—, —S—S(O)₂—O—, —S—S(O)₂—NR²—, —NR²—O—S(O)—, —NR²—O—S(O)—O—, —NR²—O—S(O)—NR²—, —NR²—O—S(O)₂—, —NR²—O—S(O)₂—O—, —NR²—O—S(O)₂—NR²—, —O—NR²—S(O)—, —O—NR²—S(O)—O—, —O—NR²—S(O)—NR²—, —O—NR²—S(O)₂—O—, —O—NR²—S(O)₂—NR²—, —O—NR²—S(O)₂—, —O—P(O)(R²)₂—, —S—P(O)(R²)₂—, —NR²—P(O)(R²)₂— and combinations of two or more thereof, wherein R² is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C₁-C₂₄ alkyl groups, C₂-C₂₄ alkenyl groups, C₂-C₂₄ alkynyl groups and C₃-C₂₄ cycloalkyl groups, the alkyl groups, alkenyl groups, alkynyl groups and cycloalkyl groups being optionally substituted.

Preferred embodiments for Q¹ are as defined above for the linker-conjugate. In the linker-construct according to the invention, Q² is a reactive group capable of reacting with a functional group F² present on a target molecule. Reactive groups Q² capable of reacting with such a functional group F² are known to a person skilled in the art. In a preferred embodiment, Q² is a reactive group selected from the group consisting of, optionally substituted, N-maleimidyl groups, halogenated N-alkylamido groups, sulfonyloxy N-alkylamido groups, ester groups, carbonate groups, sulfonyl halide groups, thiol groups or derivatives thereof, alkenyl groups, alkynyl groups, (hetero)cycloalkynyl groups, bicyclo[6.1.0]non-4-yn-9-yl] groups, cycloalkenyl groups, tetrazinyl groups, azido groups, phosphine groups, nitrile oxide groups, nitrone groups, nitrile imine groups, diazo groups, ketone groups, (O-alkyl)hydroxylamino groups, hydrazine groups, halogenated N-maleimidyl groups, 1,1-bis(sulfonylmethyl)methylcarbonyl groups or elimination derivatives thereof, carbonyl halide groups and allenamide groups.

In a further preferred embodiment, Q² is according to formula (9a), (9b), (9c), (9d), (9e), (9f), (9g), (9h), (9i), (9j), (9k), (9l), (9m), (9n), (9o), (9p), (9q), (9r), (9s), (9t), (9u), (9v), (9w), (9x), (9y), (9z), (9za), (9zb), (9zc), (9zd), (9ze), (9zf), (9zg), (9zh), (9zi), (9zj), (9zk), (9zl), (9zm) or (9zn), wherein (9a), (9b), (9c), (9d), (9e), (9f), (9g), (9h), (9i), (9j), (9k), (9l), (9m), (9n), (9o), (9p), (9q), (9r), (9s), (9t), (9u), (9v), (9w), (9x), (9y), (9z), (9za), (9zb), (9zc), (9zd), (9ze), (9zf), (9zg), (9zh), (9zi), (9zj), (9zk), (9zl), (9zm), (9zn) and preferred embodiments thereof, are as defined above. In this embodiment it is further preferred that Q² is according to formula (9a), (9b), (9c), (9f), (9j), (9n), (9o), (9p), (9q), (9s), (9t), (9zh), (9r), (9zl), (9zm) or (9zn), more preferably according to formula (9a), (9n), (9o), (9p), (9q), (9t), (9zh) or (9s), and even more preferably Q² is according to formula (9a), (9p), (9q), (9n), (9t), (9zh), or (9o), and preferred embodiments thereof, as defined above. Most preferably, Q² is according to formula (9a), (9p), (9q), (9n), (9t), (9zh) or (9o), and preferred embodiments thereof, as defined above.

In a specific embodiment of the linker-construct according to the invention, Q¹ is according to formula (9a), (9b), (9c), (9d), (9e), (9f), (9g), (9h), (9i), (9j), (9k), (9l), (9m), (9n), (9o), (9p), (9q), (9r), (9s), (9t), (9u), (9v), (9w), (9x), (9y), (9z), (9za), (9zb), (9zc), (9zd), (9ze), (9zf), (9zg), (9zh), (9zi), (9zj), (9zk), (9zl), (9zm) or (9zn), wherein (9a), (9b), (9c), (9d), (9e), (9f), (9g), (9h), (9i), (9j), (9k), (9l), (9m), (9n), (9o), (9p), (9q), (9r), (9s), (9t), (9u), (9v), (9w), (9x), (9y), (9z), (9za), (9zb), (9zc), (9zd), (9ze), (9zf), (9zg), (9zh), (9zi), (9zj), (9zk), (9zl), (9zm), (9zn) and preferred embodiments thereof, are as defined above; and spacer moiety Sp is selected from the group consisting of linear or branched C₁-C₂₀ alkylene groups, the alkylene groups being optionally substituted and optionally interrupted by one or more heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of O, S and NR³, wherein R³ is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C₁-C₄ alkyl groups; wherein the spacer moiety Sp is interrupted by one or more branching moieties BM, connected to a sulfamide group SG and capping moiety E, optionally vie one or two spacers, as defined above.

In a further preferred embodiment, Q¹ is according to formula (9a), (9b), (9c), (9f), (9j), (9n), (9o), (9p), (9q), (9s), (9t), (9zh), (9zk), (9r), (9zl), (9zm) or (9zn). In an even further preferred embodiment, Q¹ is according to formula (9a), (9n), (9o), (9p), (9q), (9t), (9zh) or (9s), and in a particularly preferred embodiment, Q¹ is according to formula (9a), (9p), (9q), (9n), (9t), (9zh), (9zk) or (9o), and preferred embodiments thereof, as defined above. Most preferably Q¹ is according to formula (9a), (9p), (9q), (9n), (9t), (9zh) or (9o), and preferred embodiments thereof, as defined above.

The invention further concerns the use of a linker-construct according to the invention for the preparation of a linker-conjugate according to the invention. The process for preparing the linker-conjugate according to the invention is further defined below.

The invention further relates to the use of a linker-construct according to the invention in a bioconjugation process. The linker-construct according to the invention, and preferred embodiments therefore, are described in detail above.

Process for the Preparation of a Linker-Conjugate

The present invention also relates to a process for the preparation of a linker-conjugate according to the invention. In particular, the invention relates to a process for the preparation of a linker-conjugate according to the invention, the process comprising the step of reacting a functional group Q² of a linker-construct with a functional group F² of a target molecule, wherein said linker-construct is as defined above. The linker-construct and preferred embodiments thereof, including preferred embodiments of Q¹, Q² and target molecule D, are described in detail above. In a preferred embodiment of the process for the preparation of a linker-conjugate, the linker-construct is according to (Q¹)_(y)-Sp-(Q²)_(z) as defined above. In a further preferred embodiment of the process for the preparation of a linker-conjugate, the linker-construct is according to (Q¹)_(y)-(Z^(w))—Sp-(Z^(x))-(Q²)_(z) as defined above.

Bioconjugate

In a third aspect, the invention concerns bioconjugates as defined herein. In the context of the present invention, “bioconjugate” refers to a compound wherein a biomolecule is covalently connected to a target molecule via a linker according to the invention, comprising a branching moiety BM and a sulfamide group SG. In other words, the bioconjugate is a compound wherein a biomolecule is covalently connected to a target molecule, via a linker. A bioconjugate comprises one or more biomolecules and/or one or more target molecules. The bioconjugate according to the invention comprises the linker according to the invention as defined above, preferably the linker according to structure (2).

The bioconjugate according to the invention is typically prepared by the process for preparation of a bioconjugate according to the invention, wherein the linker-conjugate comprising reactive group Q¹ is conjugated to a biomolecule comprising reactive group F¹. In this conjugation reaction, reactive groups Q¹ and F¹ react with each other to form a connecting group Z³, which joins the linker-conjugate with the biomolecule. All preferred embodiments described herein for the linker-conjugate and the linker thus equally apply to the bioconjugate according to the invention, except for all said for Q¹ and F, as the bioconjugate according to the invention contains the reaction product of Q¹ and F¹ as defined herein.

The bioconjugate according to the invention may comprise more than one target molecule. Similarly, the bioconjugate may comprise more than one biomolecule. Biomolecule B and target molecule D, and preferred embodiments thereof, are described in more detail above. Preferred embodiments for D in the bioconjugate according to the invention correspond to preferred embodiments of D in the linker-conjugate according to the invention as were described in more detail above. Preferred embodiments for the linker according to the invention as described above also apply to the linker comprised in the bioconjugate according to the invention. In the bioconjugate according to the invention, biomolecule B is preferably selected from the group consisting of proteins (including glycoproteins and antibodies), polypeptides, peptides, glycans, lipids, nucleic acids, oligonucleotides, polysaccharides, oligosaccharides, enzymes, hormones, amino acids and monosaccharides. More preferably, biomolecule B is selected from the group consisting of proteins (including glycoproteins and antibodies), polypeptides, peptides, glycans, nucleic acids, oligonucleotides, polysaccharides, oligosaccharides and enzymes. Most preferably, biomolecule B is selected from the group consisting of proteins, including glycoproteins and antibodies, polypeptides, peptides and glycans.

The bioconjugate according to the invention may also be defined as a bioconjugate wherein a biomolecule is conjugated to a target molecule via a spacer-moiety, wherein the spacer-moiety comprises the linker according to the invention. The bioconjugate according to the invention may also be denoted as (B)_(y)—Sp-(D)_(z), wherein y is an integer in the range of 1 to 10 and z is an integer in the range of 1 to 10. The invention thus also relates to a bioconjugate according to the formula: (B)_(y)—Sp-(D)_(z), wherein:

-   -   y is an integer in the range of 1 to 10, preferably in the range         1-5, more preferably y=1;     -   z is an integer in the range of 1 to 10, preferably in the range         1-5;     -   B is a biomolecule as defined herein;     -   D is a target molecule as defined herein; and     -   Sp is a spacer moiety, wherein a spacer moiety is defined as a         moiety that spaces (i.e. provides a certain distance between)         and covalently links biomolecule B and target molecule D,         wherein said spacer moiety comprises the linker according to the         invention as defined above.

Preferably, y is 1, 2, 3 or 4, more preferably y is 1 or 2 and most preferably, y is 1. Preferably, z is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, more preferably z is 1, 2, 3 or 4, even more preferably z is 1, 2 or 3, yet even more preferably z is 1 or 2 and most preferably z is 1. More preferably, y is 1 or 2, preferably 1, and z is 1, 2, 3 or 4, yet even more preferably y is 1 or 2, preferably 1, and z is 1, 2 or 3, yet even more preferably y is 1 or 2, preferably 1, and z is 1 or 2, and most preferably y is 1 and z is 1. In a preferred embodiment, the bioconjugate is according to the formula B-Sp-(D)₄, B-Sp-(D)₃, B-Sp-(D)₂ or B-Sp-D.

In a preferred embodiment, the bioconjugate according to the invention is represented by formula (5):

Herein, b, c, d, e, f, g, i, D, BM, SG, E, Sp¹, Sp², Sp³, Sp⁴, Sp⁵, Sp⁶, Z¹ and Z², and preferred embodiments thereof, are as defined above for the linker according to the invention or the linker-conjugate of the invention, and

-   -   h is 0 or 1;     -   j is 0 or 1;     -   Z³ is a connecting group that connects B or Sp⁷ to Sp³, Z¹, Sp²         or BM;     -   Sp⁷ is a spacer moiety; and     -   B is a biomolecule as defined herein.

Preferably, h is 1. Preferably, j is 0. Preferred embodiments of biomolecule B are as defined above. Preferred embodiment for Sp⁷ are according to the preferred embodiments of any one Sp¹-Sp⁶ as defined above. Z³ is a connecting group. As described above, the term “connecting group” herein refers to the structural element connecting one part of a compound and another part of the same compound. Typically, a bioconjugate is prepared via reaction of a reactive group Q¹ present in a linker-conjugate with a functional group F¹ present in a biomolecule. As will be understood by the person skilled in the art, the nature of connecting group Z³ depends on the type of organic reaction that was used to establish the connection between a biomolecule and a linker-conjugate. In other words, the nature of Z³ depends on the nature of reactive group Q¹ of the linker-conjugate and the nature of functional group F¹ in the biomolecule. Since there is a large number of different chemical reactions available for establishing the connection between a biomolecule and a linker-conjugate, consequently there is a large number of possibilities for Z³.

Several examples of suitable combinations of F¹ and Q¹, and of connecting group Z³ that will be present in a bioconjugate when a linker-conjugate comprising Q¹ is conjugated to a biomolecule comprising a complementary functional group F, are shown in FIG. 6.

When F¹ is for example a thiol group, complementary groups Q¹ include N-maleimidyl groups and alkenyl groups, and the corresponding connecting groups Z³ are as shown in FIG. 6. When F¹ is a thiol group, complementary groups Q¹ also include allenamide groups.

When F¹ is for example an amino group, complementary groups Q¹ include ketone groups and activated ester groups, and the corresponding connecting groups Z³ are as shown in FIG. 6.

When F¹ is for example a ketone group, complementary groups Q¹ include (O-alkyl)hydroxylamino groups and hydrazine groups, and the corresponding connecting groups Z³ are as shown in FIG. 6.

When F¹ is for example an alkynyl group, complementary groups Q¹ include azido groups, and the corresponding connecting group Z³ is as shown in FIG. 6.

When F¹ is for example an azido group, complementary groups Q¹ include alkynyl groups, and the corresponding connecting group Z³ is as shown in FIG. 6.

When F¹ is for example a cyclopropenyl group, a trans-cyclooctene group or a cyclooctyne group, complementary groups Q¹ include tetrazinyl groups, and the corresponding connecting group Z³ is as shown in FIG. 6. In these particular cases, Z³ is only an intermediate structure and will expel N₂, thereby generating a dihydropyridazine (from the reaction with alkene) or pyridazine (from the reaction with alkyne).

Additional suitable combinations of F¹ and Q¹, and the nature of resulting connecting group Z³ are known to a person skilled in the art, and are e.g. described in G. T. Hermanson, “Bioconjugate Techniques”, Elsevier, 3^(rd) Ed. 2013 (ISBN: 978-0-12-382239-0), in particular in Chapter 3, pages 229-258, incorporated by reference. A list of complementary reactive groups suitable for bioconjugation processes is disclosed in Table 3.1, pages 230-232 of Chapter 3 of G. T. Hermanson, “Bioconjugate Techniques”, Elsevier, 3^(rd) Ed. 2013 (ISBN: 978-0-12-382239-0), and the content of this Table is expressly incorporated by reference herein.

In the bioconjugate according to (5), it is preferred that at least one of Z³, Sp³, Z¹ and Sp² is present, i.e. at least one of h, g, d and c is not 0. It is also preferred that at least one of Sp¹, Z² and Sp⁴ is present, i.e. that at least one of b, e and i is not 0. More preferably, at least one of Z³, Sp³, Z¹ and Sp² is present and at least one of Sp, Z² and Sp⁴ is present, i.e. it is preferred that at least one of b, e and i is not 0 and at least one of h, g, d and c is not 0.

Process for the Preparation of a Bioconjugate

In a fourth aspect, the present invention also relates to a process for the preparation of a bioconjugate, the process comprising the step of reacting a reactive group Q¹ of a linker-conjugate according to the invention with a functional group F¹ of a biomolecule. The linker-conjugate according to the invention, and preferred embodiments thereof, are described in more detail above.

FIG. 1 shows the general concept of conjugation of biomolecules: a biomolecule of interest (BOI) comprising one or more functional groups F¹ is incubated with (excess of) a target molecule D (also referred to as molecule of interest or MOI) covalently attached to a reactive group Q¹ via a specific linker. In the process of bioconjugation, a chemical reaction between F¹ and Q¹ takes place, thereby forming a bioconjugate comprising a covalent bond between the BOI and the MOI. The BOI may e.g. be a peptide/protein, a glycan or a nucleic acid. In the process according to the invention, the linker is a sulfamide linker.

The present invention thus relates to a process for the preparation of a bioconjugate, the process comprising the step of reacting a reactive group Q¹ of a linker-conjugate with a functional group F¹ of a biomolecule, wherein the linker-conjugate is the linker-conjugate according to the invention as defined above and comprises the linker according to the invention as defined above. The present process occurs under condition such that reactive group Q¹ of the linker-conjugate is reacted with the functional group F¹ of the biomolecule to covalently link the biomolecule to the linker-conjugate. In the process according to the invention, Q¹ reacts with F, forming a covalent connection between the biomolecule and the linker-moiety. Complementary reactive groups Q¹ and functional groups F¹ are described in more detail above and below.

In a preferred embodiment, the process according to this aspect of the invention concerns a process for the preparation of a bioconjugate via a cycloaddition or a Michael reaction. A preferred Michael reaction is the thiol-maleimide addition, most preferably wherein Q¹ is maleimide and F¹ is a thiol group. Preferred cycloadditions are a (4+2)-cycloaddition (e.g. a Diels-Alder reaction) or a (3+2)-cycloaddition (e.g. a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition). Preferably, the conjugation is the Diels-Alder reaction or the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition. The preferred Diels-Alder reaction is the inverse-electron demand Diels-Alder cycloaddition. In another preferred embodiment, the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition is used, more preferably the alkyne-azide cycloaddition, and most preferably wherein Q¹ is or comprises an alkyne group and F¹ is an azido group. Cycloadditions, such as Diels-Alder reactions and 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions are known in the art, and the skilled person knowns how to perform them. In a further preferred embodiment, the invention concerns a process for the preparation of a bioconjugate, wherein the target molecule is hydrophobic (i.e. poorly soluble in water), most preferably wherein the target molecule has a water solubility of at most 0.1% (w/w) in water (20° C. and 100 kPa). In an especially preferred embodiment, the invention concerns a process for the preparation of a bioconjugate via cycloaddition, preferably a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition, more preferably the alkyne-azide cycloaddition, and most preferably wherein Q¹ is or comprises an alkyne group and F¹ is an azido group, and wherein the target molecule is hydrophobic, most preferably wherein the target molecule has a water solubility of at most 0.1% (w/w) in water (20° C. and 100 kPa).

Biomolecules are described in more detail above. Preferably, in the process according to the invention the biomolecule is selected from the group consisting of proteins (including glycoproteins and antibodies), polypeptides, peptides, glycans, lipids, nucleic acids, oligonucleotides, polysaccharides, oligosaccharides, enzymes, hormones, amino acids and monosaccharides. More preferably, biomolecule B is selected from the group consisting of proteins (including glycoproteins and antibodies), polypeptides, peptides, glycans, nucleic acids, oligonucleotides, polysaccharides, oligosaccharides and enzymes. Most preferably, biomolecule B is selected from the group consisting of proteins, including glycoproteins and antibodies, polypeptides, peptides and glycans.

Target molecules are described in more detail above. In a preferred embodiment of the process according to the invention, the target molecule is selected from the group consisting of an active substance, a reporter molecule, a polymer, a solid surface, a hydrogel, a nanoparticle, a microparticle and a biomolecule. Active substances, reporter molecules, polymers, solid surfaces, hydrogels, nanoparticles and microparticles are described in detail above, as are their preferred embodiments. In view of the significantly improved water solubility of the linker-conjugate when the sulfamide linker according to the invention is employed, a preferred embodiment of the process for the preparation of a bioconjugate employs a hydrophobic target molecule. The hydrophobic target molecule in its unconjugated form typically has a water solubility of at most 1% (w/w), preferably at most 0.5% (w/w), most preferably at most 0.1% (w/w), determined at 20° C. and 100 kPa.

Reactive group Q¹ are described in more detail above. In the process according to the invention, it is preferred that reactive group Q¹ is selected from the group consisting of, optionally substituted, N-maleimidyl groups, halogenated N-alkylamido groups, sulfonyloxy N-alkylamido groups, ester groups, carbonate groups, sulfonyl halide groups, thiol groups or derivatives thereof, alkenyl groups, alkynyl groups, (hetero)cycloalkynyl groups, bicyclo[6.1.0]non-4-yn-9-yl] groups, cycloalkenyl groups, tetrazinyl groups, azido groups, phosphine groups, nitrile oxide groups, nitrone groups, nitrile imine groups, diazo groups, ketone groups, (O-alkyl)hydroxylamino groups, hydrazine groups, halogenated N-maleimidyl groups, 1,1-bis(sulfonylmethyl)methylcarbonyl groups or elimination derivatives thereof, carbonyl halide groups and allenamide groups.

In a further preferred embodiment, Q¹ is according to formula (9a), (9b), (9c), (9d), (9e), (9f), (9g), (9h), (9i), (9j), (9k), (9l), (9m), (9n), (9o), (9p), (9q), (9r), (9s), (9t), (9u), (9v), (9w), (9x), (9y), (9z), (9za), (9zb), (9zc), (9zd), (9ze), (9zf), (9zg), (9zh), (9zi), (9zj), (9zk), (9zl), (9zm) or (9zn), wherein (9a), (9b), (9c), (9d), (9e), (9f), (9g), (9h), (9i), (9j), (9k), (9l), (9m), (9n), (9o), (9p), (9q), (9r), (9s), (9t), (9u), (9v), (9w), (9x), (9y), (9z), (9za), (9zb), (9zc), (9zd), (9ze), (9zf), (9zg), (9zh), (9zi), (9zj), (9zk), (9zl), (9zm), (9zn) and preferred embodiments thereof, are as defined above for the linker-conjugate according to the invention. More preferably, Q¹ is according to formula (9a), (9b), (9c), (9f), (9j), (9n), (9o), (9p), (9q), (9s), (9t), (9zh), (9r), (9zl), (9zm) or (9zn). Even more preferably, Q¹ is according to formula (9a), (9n), (9o), (9p), (9q), (9t), (9zh) or (9s), and most preferably, Q¹ is according to formula (9a), (9p), (9q), (9n), (9t), (9zh) or (9o), and preferred embodiments thereof, as defined above.

In an especially preferred embodiment, Q¹ comprises an alkyne group, preferably selected from the alkynyl group as described above, the cycloalkenyl group as described above, the (hetero)cycloalkynyl group as described above and a bicyclo[6.1.0]non-4-yn-9-yl] group, more preferably Q¹ is selected from the formulae (9j), (9n), (9o), (9p), (9q) and (9zk), as defined above. Most preferably, Q¹ is a bicyclo[6.1.0]non-4-yn-9-yl] group, preferably of formula (9q).

In a further preferred embodiment of the process according to the invention, the linker-conjugate is according to formula (4), as defined above. Definitions and preferred embodiments for each of Q¹, BM, E, SG, D b, c, d, e, f, g, i, k, l, Sp¹, Sp², Sp³, Sp⁴, Sp⁵, Sp⁶, Z¹ and Z² are given above for the linker and the linker-conjugate, and also apply to the linker-conjugate used in the process according to the present aspect.

Sp¹, Sp², Sp³, Sp⁴, Sp⁵ and Sp⁶ are, independently, spacer moieties, in other words, Sp¹, Sp², Sp³, Sp⁴, Sp⁵ and Sp⁶ may differ from each other. Sp¹, Sp², Sp³, Sp⁴, Sp⁵ and Sp⁶ may be present or absent (b, c, g, i, k and l are, independently, 0 or 1). However, it is preferred that at least one of Sp¹, Sp², Sp³, Sp⁴, Sp⁵ and Sp⁶ is present, i.e. it is preferred that at least one of b, c, g, i, k and l is not 0. Preferred embodiment for each of the spacers Sp¹, Sp², Sp³, Sp⁴, Sp⁵ and Sp⁶ are described above for the linker according to the invention.

In a partially preferred process according to the invention, Sp¹, Sp², Sp⁴, Sp⁵ and Sp⁶, if present, are independently selected from the group consisting of linear or branched C₁-C₂₀ alkylene groups, the alkylene groups being optionally substituted and optionally interrupted by one or more heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of O, S and NR³, wherein R³ is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C₁-C₄ alkyl groups, and wherein Q¹ is according to formula (9a), (9p), (9q), (9n), (9t), (9zh) or (9o):

wherein:

-   -   R¹⁰ is a (thio)ester group; and     -   R¹⁸ is selected from the group consisting of, optionally         substituted, C₁-C₁₂ alkyl groups and C₄-C₁₂ (hetero)aryl groups.

As described above, in the process for the preparation of a bioconjugate, a reactive group Q¹ that is present in a linker-conjugate is reacted with a functional group F¹ that is present in a biomolecule. In the process according to the invention, more than one functional group may be present in the biomolecule. When two or more functional groups are present, said groups may be the same or different. Similarly, more than one reactive group may be present in the linker-conjugate. When two or more reactive groups are present, said groups may be the same or different. In a preferred embodiment of the process according to the invention, the linker-conjugate comprises one reactive group Q¹, and one or more target molecules D which may be the same or different. The linker-conjugate comprises for example 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, preferably 1, 2, 3 or 4, more preferably 1, 2 or 3, even more preferably 1 or 2 target molecule D. In a particularly preferred embodiment the linker-conjugate comprises 1 target molecule D. In another particularly preferred embodiment, the linker-conjugate comprises 2 target molecules D, which may be the same or different. In another preferred embodiment, the biomolecule comprises two or more functional groups F, which may be the same or different, and two or more functional groups react with a complementary reactive group Q of a linker-conjugate. For example a biomolecule comprising two functional groups F, i.e. F¹ and F², may react with two linker-conjugates comprising a functional group Q¹, which may be the same or different, to form a bioconjugate. Examples of a functional group F¹ in a biomolecule comprise an amino group, a thiol group, a carboxylic acid, an alcohol group, a carbonyl group, a phosphate group, or an aromatic group. The functional group in the biomolecule may be naturally present or may be placed in the biomolecule by a specific technique, for example a (bio)chemical or a genetic technique. The functional group that is placed in the biomolecule may be a functional group that is naturally present in nature, or may be a functional group that is prepared by chemical synthesis, for example an azide, a terminal alkyne, a cyclopropene moiety or a phosphine moiety. In view of the preferred mode of conjugation by cycloaddition, it is preferred that F¹ is group capable of reacting in a cycloaddition, such as a diene, a dienophile, a 1,3-dipole or a dipolarophile, preferably F¹ is selected from a 1,3-dipole (typically an azido group, nitrone group, nitrile oxide group, nitrile imine group or diazo group) or a dipolarophile (typically an alkenyl or alkynyl group). Herein, F¹ is a 1,3-dipole when Q¹ is a dipolarophile and F¹ is a dipolarophile when Q¹ is a 1,3-dipole, or F¹ is a diene when Q¹ is a dienophile and F¹ is a dienophile when Q¹ is a diene. Most preferably, F¹ is a 1,3-dipole, preferably F¹ is or comprises an azido group.

Several examples of a functional group that is placed into a biomolecule are shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 shows several structures of derivatives of UDP sugars of galactosamine, which may be modified with e.g. a thiopropionyl group (11a), an azidoacetyl group (11b), or an azidodifluoroacetyl group (11c) at the 2-position, or with an azido group at the 6-position of N-acetyl galactosamine (11d).

FIG. 3 schematically displays how any of the UDP-sugars 11a-d may be attached to a glycoprotein comprising a GlcNAc moiety 12 (e.g. a monoclonal antibody the glycan of which is trimmed by an endoglycosidase) under the action of a galactosyltransferase mutant or a GalNAc-transferase, thereby generating a 3-glycosidic 1-4 linkage between a GalNAc derivative and GlcNAc (compounds 13a-d, respectively).

Preferred examples of naturally present functional groups F¹ include a thiol group and an amino group. Preferred examples of a functional group that is prepared by chemical synthesis for incorporation into the biomolecule include a ketone group, a terminal alkyne group, an azide group, a cyclo(hetero)alkyne group, a cyclopropene group, or a tetrazine group.

As was described above, complementary reactive groups Q¹ and functional groups F¹ are known to a person skilled in the art, and several suitable combinations of Q¹ and F¹ are described above, and shown in FIG. 6. A list of complementary groups Q¹ and F¹ is disclosed in in Table 3.1, pages 230-232 of Chapter 3 of G. T. Hermanson, “Bioconjugate Techniques”, Elsevier, 3^(rd) Ed. 2013 (ISBN: 978-0-12-382239-0), and the content of this Table is expressly incorporated by reference herein.

An embodiment of the process according to the invention is depicted in FIG. 4. FIG. 4 shows how a modified antibody 13a-d may undergo a bioconjugation process by means of nucleophilic addition with maleimide (as for 3-mercaptopropionyl-galactosamine-modified 13a leading to thioether conjugate 14, or for conjugation to an engineered cysteine residue leading to thioether conjugate 17) or upon strain-promoted cycloaddition with a cyclooctyne reagent (as for 13b, 13c or 13d, leading to triazoles 15a, 15b or 16, respectively).

The invention further relates to a bioconjugate obtainable by the process according to the invention for the preparation of a bioconjugate.

Use

In a fifth aspect, the invention concerns the use of the linker according to the invention in bioconjugation for (a) improving conjugation efficiency, (b) reducing aggregation, (c) increasing stability of a bioconjugate as defined herein and/or (d) increasing therapeutic index of the bioconjugate. In one embodiment, the use according to the present aspect is for (a) improving conjugation efficiency in a bioconjugation reaction wherein the linker-conjugate according to the present invention reacts with a biomolecule, as described herein. In one embodiment, the use according to the present aspect is for (b) reducing aggregation during the bioconjugation reaction, e.g. the bioconjugation reaction according to the invention (in-process aggregation) and/or for reducing aggregation of the bioconjugate according to the invention (product aggregation). In one embodiment, the use according to the present aspect is for (c) increasing stability of the bioconjugate according to the present invention, in particular for increasing stability towards hydrolysis. In one embodiment, the use according to the present aspect is for (d) increasing therapeutic index of the bioconjugate.

A first advantages of the process for the preparation of a bioconjugate as described herein, and of the linker-conjugates and sulfamide linker according to the invention is that conjugation efficiency increases in case a sulfamide linker is used instead of a typical polyethylene glycol (PEG) spacer. An additional advantage of a sulfamide group, in particular of an acylsulfamide or a carbamoylsulfamide group, is its high polarity, which imparts a positive effect on the solubility of a linker comprising such group, and on the construct as a whole, before, during and after conjugation. In view of this increased polarity, conjugation with first precursor containing the sulfamide linker according to the invention are particularly suited to conjugate hydrophobic target compounds to a biomolecule. The high polarity of the sulfamides also has a positive impact in case hydrophobic moieties are conjugated to a biomolecule of interest, which is known to require large amounts of organic co-solvent during conjugation and/or induce aggregation of the bioconjugate. High levels of co-solvent (up to 50% of DMA, DMF, or DMSO) may induce protein denaturation during the conjugation process and/or may require special equipment in the manufacturing process. Thus, the problem of aggregation associated with the hydrophobic linking moieties in bioconjugates is efficiently solved by using the sulfamide linker according to the invention in the spacer between the target molecule and the reactive group Q¹ in the linker-conjugate in the formation of the bioconjugate. An additional advantage of a sulfamide linker according the invention, and its use in bioconjugation processes, is its ease of synthesis and high yields. Furthermore, the inventors have found that the bioconjugates according to the invention are more stable than bioconjugates not according to the present invention, i.e. not comprising the linker according to the invention.

Lastly, the inventors surprisingly found that a bioconjugate according to the invention exhibits a greater therapeutic index compared to the same bioconjugate, i.e. the same biomolecule, the same active substance (drug) and the same biomolecule drug ratio, but not containing a linker according to the invention, i.e. wherein no sulfamide group (SG) is present. That the linker could have an effect on the therapeutic efficacy of a bioconjugate, such as an antibody-drug-conjugate, could not be envisioned based on the current knowledge. In the field, linkers are considered inert when it comes to treatment and are solely present as a consequence of the preparation of the bioconjugate. That the selection of a specific linker has an effect on the therapeutic efficacy is unprecedented and a breakthrough discovery in the field of bioconjugates, in particular antibody-drug-conjugates. The bioconjugates according to the invention are thus more therapeutically effective as the same bioconjugates, i.e. the same biomolecule, the same active substance (drug) and the same biomolecule-active substance ratio, containing a different linker. This finding has dramatic implications on the treatment of subjects with the bioconjugate according to the invention, as treatment doses may be lowered and as a consequence potential, unwanted, side-effects are reduced. Alternatively, as a result of the increased tolerability of the bioconjugate (i.e. increased stability and low aggregation potential) according to the invention, treatment doses might be increased without the potential increase in unwanted side-effects.

The use according to the present aspect is largely non-medical. In one embodiment, the use is a non-medical use for (a) improving conjugation efficiency, (b) reducing aggregation, (c) increasing stability of a bioconjugate as defined herein and/or (d) increasing therapeutic index of the bioconjugate.

The first aspect of the invention can also be worded as the linker according to the invention for use in for (a) improving conjugation efficiency, (b) reducing aggregation, (c) increasing stability of a bioconjugate as defined herein and/or (d) increasing therapeutic index of the bioconjugate. In other words, the present aspect concerns the use of a linker according to the invention for (a) improving conjugation efficiency, (b) reducing aggregation, (c) increasing stability of a bioconjugate as defined herein and/or (d) increasing therapeutic index of the bioconjugate. The invention according to the present aspect can also be worded as the use of a linker according to the invention in a bioconjugate according to the invention, or in the preparation of a bioconjugate according to the invention, for (a) improving conjugation efficiency, (b) reducing aggregation, (c) increasing stability of a bioconjugate as defined herein and/or (d) increasing therapeutic index of the bioconjugate. The use as defined herein may be referred to as a non-medical or non-therapeutic use.

The bioconjugate subject of the use according to the present aspect is preferably obtainable by the process for the preparation of a bioconjugate as defined above, more preferably the bioconjugate is obtained by the process for the preparation of a bioconjugate as defined above. It was found that bioconjugates thus obtained had an even further improved therapeutic index.

The inventors found that the linker according to the invention, as comprised in the bioconjugates according to the invention, has an effect on both aspects of the therapeutic index: (a) on the therapeutic efficacy and (b) on the tolerability. Thus, the method for increasing the therapeutic index is preferably for (a) increasing the therapeutic efficacy, and/or (b) increasing the tolerability of a bioconjugate according to the invention.

Thus, in one embodiment, the method according to the first aspect is for increasing the therapeutic efficacy of a bioconjugate according to the invention. Herein, “increasing the therapeutic efficacy” can also be worded as “lowering the effective dose” or “lowering the ED₅₀ value” or “increasing the protective index”. Likewise, in one embodiment, the method according to the first aspect is for increasing the tolerability of a bioconjugate according to the invention. Herein, “increasing the tolerability” can also be worded as “increasing the maximum tolerated dose (MTD)”, “increasing the TD₅₀ value” or “reducing the toxicity”. In one especially preferred embodiment, the method according to the first aspect is for (a) increasing the therapeutic efficacy and (b) increasing the tolerability of a bioconjugate according to the invention.

Medical Use

The invention thus concerns in a sixth aspect a method for the treatment of a subject in need thereof, comprising the administration of the bioconjugate according to the invention as defined above. The subject in need thereof is most preferably a cancer patient. The use of bioconjugates, such as antibody-drug conjugates, is well-known in the field of cancer treatment, and the bioconjugates according to the invention are especially suited in this respect. The method as described is typically suited for the treatment of cancer. In the method according to the sixth aspect, the bioconjugate is typically administered in a therapeutically effective dose. The bioconjugate according to the invention is described a great detail above.

The sixth aspect of the invention can also be worded as a bioconjugate according to the invention for use in the treatment of a subject in need thereof, preferably for the treatment of cancer. In other words, the second aspect concerns the use of a bioconjugate according to the invention for the preparation of a medicament pharmaceutical for use in the treatment of a subject in need thereof, preferably for use in the treatment of cancer.

Examples Examples 1-3: Preparation of Compound 25

The synthetic approach towards compound 25 is depicted here below.

Example 1: Preparation of Compound 21

To a solution of (R)-(+)-N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-O-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)serinol (26; 50 mg, 0.164 mmol) in DCM (1.6 mL) under a nitrogen atmosphere was added chlorosulfonyl isocyanate (14.3 μL, 0.164 mmol) and the resulting mixture was stirred for 15 min. Then, Et₃N (68 μL, 0.491 mmol) was added, followed by benzylamine (18 μL, 0.164 mmol). After 1 h, DCM (10 mL) and sat. NH₄Cl solution (10 mL) were added. The layers were separated and the water phase was extracted with DCM (2×10 mL) and EtOAc (3×10 mL). The combined organic layers were dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. Flash chromatography (10-50% EtOAc in pentane) afforded the product (72 mg, 0.14 mmol, 85%). LRMS (ESI+) calcd for C₂₂H₃₉N₃O₇SSi (M+H⁺) 518.24, found 518.28.

Example 2: Preparation of Compound 22

To a solution of compound 21 (72 mg, 0.14 mmol) in DCM (1 mL) was added TFA (1 mL) and the reaction mixture was stirred at rt overnight. The reaction was concentrated and co-evaporated with toluene (2×15 mL) to afford the crude product. 1H-NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD): δ 7.38-7.24 (m, 5H), 4.29-4.18 (m, 4H), 3.91-3.64 (m, 3H), 3.54-3.43 (m, 1H), 0.98-0.86 (m, 5H), 0.15-0.04 (m, 5H). LRMS (ESI+) calcd for C₁₇H₃₁N₃O₅SSi (M+H+) 418.18, found 418.20.

Example 3: Preparation of Compound 25

To a solution of the crude compound 22 (0.14 mmol) in MeCN (2 mL) under a nitrogen atmosphere, was added Et₃N (59 μL, 0.42 mmol), followed by addition of compound 23 (79 mg, 0.21 mmol) in dry DMF (0.5 mL). The resulting solution was stirred at rt overnight and concentrated to afford the crude product. LRMS (ESI+) calcd for C₃₂H₅₀N₄O₈SSi (M+H⁺) 679.32, found 679.27.

The resulting compound 24 was dissolved in THF (1.5 mL) and TBAF (100 mg) was added. The reaction was allowed to stir at rt for 24 h with an extra addition of TBAF (200 mg) after 18 h. After 24 h, the reaction was concentrated, taken up in EtOAc (15 mL) and washed with H₂O (2×10 mL). The water phase was extracted with DCM (20 mL), the combined organic layers were dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and the solvent removed under reduced pressure. Flash chromatography (80-100% EtOAc in pentane) afforded the product. ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 7.38-7.28 (m, 5H), 4.95 (t, J=6 Hz, 1H), 4.28-4.20 (m, 4H), 4.17-4.08 (m, 3H), 3.82-3.65 (m, 2H), 2.35-2.15 (m, 10H), 1.93-1.49 (m, 9H), 1.01-0.82 (m, 6H). LRMS (ESI+) calcd for C₂₆H₃₆N₄O₈S (M+H⁺) 565.23, found 565.25.

Examples 4-9: Preparation of Compound 32

The synthetic approach towards compound 32 is depicted here below.

Example 4: Preparation of Compound 27

To a solution of compound 26 (200 mg, 0.65 mmol) in DCM (6.5 mL) under a nitrogen atmosphere was added chlorosulfonyl isocyanate (CSI, 63 μL, 0.72 mmol) and the resulting mixture was stirred for 30 min, when TLC showed consumption of the starting material. Then, Et₃N (270 μL, 1.95 mmol) was added followed by 2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethanamine (83 μL, 0.65 mmol). After 45 min, DCM (15 mL) and sat. NH₄Cl solution (10 mL) were added. The layers were separated and the water phase was extracted with EtOAc (3×10 mL). The combined organic layers were dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. Flash chromatography (20-70% EtOAc in pentane) afforded the product (287 mg, 0.54 mmol, 73%). ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 6.16 (br s, 1H), 5.04 (d, J=8.8 Hz, 1H), 4.29 (dd, J=11.2, 5.6 Hz, 1H), 4.22-4.15 (m, 1H), 3.95 (br s, 1H), 3.70 (dd, J=10, 3.2 Hz, 1H), 3.65-3.60 (m, 5H), 3.59-3.55 (m, 2H), 3.41 (s, 3H), 3.34 (br s, 2H), 1.45 (s, 9H), 0.89 (s, 9H), 0.06 (s, 6H). LRMS (ESI+) calcd for C₂₀H₄₃N₃O₉SSi (M+H⁺) 530.26, found 530.21.

Example 5: Preparation of Compound 28

To a solution of compound 27 (287 mg, 0.54 mmol) in DCM (4 mL) was added TFA (1 mL) and the reaction mixture was stirred at rt for 1.5 h. The reaction was concentrated and co-evaporated with toluene (2×30 mL) to afford the crude product. LRMS (ESI+) calcd for C₁₅H₃₅N₃O₇SSi (M+H⁺) 430.20, found 430.20.

Example 6: Preparation of Compound 29

To a solution of the crude amine (0.27 mmol) in DCM (2 mL) under a nitrogen atmosphere was added Et₃N (149 μL, 1.1 mmol), followed by addition of compound 23 (122 mg, 0.32 mmol) in DCM (1 mL). The resulting solution was stirred at rt overnight and analysed by mass spectrometry. All starting material was consumed, the coupled product and product containing the free alcohol were formed. The reaction mixture was used neat for flash chromatography (50-100% EtOAc in pentane, then 1-10% MeOH in EtOAc) to afford both observed products, OTBDMS derivative 29 (69 mg, 0.09 mmol, 37%) and OH derivative 30 (113 mg, 0.18 mmol, 65%). For 29: ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 5.1 (br s, 1H), 4.32 (d, J=8.8 Hz, 2H), 4.23-4.11 (m, 3H), 3.70 (dd, J=10.4, 3.2 Hz, 1H), 3.66-3.58 (m, 8H), 3.57-3.51 (m, 2H), 3.40-3.34 (m, 4H), 3.30 (t, J=4.4 Hz, 2H), 3.24-3.18 (m, 2H), 2.34-2.15 (m, 8H), 1.90-1.73 (m, 2H), 1.64-1.50 (m, 2H), 1.42-1.28 (m, 2H), 0.99-0.80 (m, 11H), 0.06 (s, 6H). LRMS (ESI+) calcd for C₃₀H₅₄N₄O₁₀SSi (M+H⁺) 691.34, found 691.35. For 30: LRMS (ESI+) calcd for C₂₄H₄₀N₄O₁₀S (M+H⁺) 577.25, found 577.25.

Example 7: Preparation of Compound 30

To a solution of the protected alcohol 29 (69 mg, 0.099 mmol) in dry THF (1 mL) was added TBAF (120 μL, 1 M solution in THF) under a nitrogen atmosphere. The reaction was stirred at rt and the conversion monitored by mass spectrometry. After 3 h, complete conversion was observed and the reaction was concentrated to afford the crude product. LRMS (ESI+) calcd for C₂₄H₄₀N₄O₁₀S (M+H⁺) 577.25, found 577.25.

Example 8: Preparation of Compound 31

To a solution of compound 30 (55 mg, 0.095 mmol) in DCM/DMF 9/1 (1 mL) were added DSC (20 mg, 0.076 mmol) and Et₃N (40 μL, 0.286 mmol). The reaction mixture was stirred at rt and the conversion monitored by mass spectrometry. After 3 h, 100 μL was taken out for the follow-up reaction (coupling to VC-PAB-MMAE). The remaining 900 μL was used neat for flash chromatography (0-10% MeOH in EtOAc) to afford the product (34 mg, 0.047 mmol, 50%). LRMS (ESI+) calcd for C₂₉H₄₃N₅O₁₄S (M+H⁺) 718.26, found 718.35.

Example 9: Preparation of Compound 32

Val-Cit-PABC-MMAE (17 mg, 13 μmol) was dissolved in DMF (500 μL) and Et₃N (2.1 μL, 15 μmol) was added. Then, 100 μL of the reaction mixture of the DSC activation containing approx. 5 μmol activated alcohol, was added to the reaction and the mixture was allowed to stand overnight at rt. 2,2′-(ethylenedioxy)bis(ethylamine) (2.2 μL, 15 μmol) was added to quench possible remaining activated reagent. After 2 h, the resulting solution was purified by preparative HPLC (70:30-10:90 H₂O:MeCN+1% AcOH) to afford the product (3.8 mg, 2.2 μmol, approx. 44%). LRMS (ESI+) calcd for C₈₃H₁₃₂N₁₄O₂₃S (M+H⁺) 1727.11, found 1727.09.

Examples 10-14: EndoSH

In one aspect, the invention concerns a fusion enzyme comprising two endoglycosidases. In a particular example the two endoglycosidases EndoS and EndoH are connected via a linker, preferably a -(Gly₄Ser)₃-(His)₆-(Gly₄Ser)₃-linker. The fusion enzyme according to the invention as also referred to as EndoSH. The enzyme according to the invention has at least 50% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 1, preferably at least 70%, more preferably at least 80% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 1, such as at least 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 1.

Identity can be readily calculated by known methods and/or computer program methods known in the art such as BLASTP publicly available from NCBI and other sources (BLAST Manual, Altschul, S., et al., NCBI NLM NIH Bethesda, Md. 20894; Altschul, S., et al., J. Mol. Biol. 215:403-410 (1990). Preferably, the enzyme of the invention, having the above indicated sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 1, has EndoS and EndoH activity. Most preferably, the enzyme according to the invention has 100% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 1.

Also encompassed are fusion enzymes of EndoS and EndoH, wherein the linker is replaced by another suitable linker known in the art, wherein said linker may be a rigid, or flexible. Preferably, said linker is a flexible linker allowing the adjacent protein domains to move relative freely to one another. Preferably, said flexible linker is composed of amino residues like glycine, serine, histidine and/or alanine and has a length of 3 to 59 amino acid residues, preferably 10 to 45 or 15 to 40 amino acid residues, such as 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 or 40 amino acid residues, or 20 to 38, 25 to 37 or 30 to 36 amino acid residues. Optionally, the fusion enzyme is covalently linked to, or comprises, a tag for ease of purification and or detection as known in the art, such as an Fc-tag, FLAG-tag, poly(His)-tag, HA-tag and Myc-tag.

Trimming of glycoproteins is known in the art, from e.g. WO 2007/133855 or WO 2014/065661. The enzyme according to the invention exhibits both EndoS and EndoH activity, and is capable of trimming glycans on glycoproteins (such as antibodies) at the core GlcNAc unit, leaving only the core GlcNAc residue on the glycoprotein (EndoS activity) as well as well as splitting off high-manose glycans (EndoH activity). Surprisingly, both activities of the fusion enzyme function smoothly at a pH around 7-8, while monomeric EndoH requires a pH of 6 to operate optimally. The fusion enzyme according to the invention can be prepared by routine techniques in the art, such as introducing an expression vector (e.g. plasmid) comprising the enzyme coding sequence into a host cell (e.g. E. coli) for expression, from which the enzyme can be isolated. A possible approach for the preparation and purification of the fusion enzyme according to the invention is given in examples 10-12, and its functioning is demonstrated in examples 13 and 14, wherein trastuzumab and high-mannose trastuzumab are efficiently trimmed in a single step. Another example of the efficient trimming of glycans by the fusion protein EndoSH is provided in example 17.

Example 10: Cloning of Fusion Protein EndoSH into (pET22B) Expression Vector

A pET22B-vector containing an EndoS-(G₄S)₃-(His)₆-(G₄S)₃-EndoH (EndoSH) coding sequence (EndoSH being identified by SEQ ID NO: 1) between EcoRI-Hindlll sites was obtained from Genscript. The DNA sequence for the EndoSH fusion protein consists of the encoding residues 48-995 of EndoS fused via an N-terminal linked glycine-serine (GS) linker to EndoH. The glycine-serine (GS) linker comprises a -(G₄S)₃-(His)₆-(G₄S)₃-format, allowing spacing of the two enzymes and at the same time introducing a IMAC-purification tag.

Example 11: E. coli Expression of Fusion Protein EndoSH

Expression of the EndoSH fusion protein (identified by SEQ ID NO: 1) starts with the transformation of the plasmid (pET22b-EndoSH) into BL21 cells. Next step is the inoculation of 500 mL culture (LB medium+Ampilicin) with BL21 cells. When the OD600 reached 0.7 the cultures were induced with 1 mM IPTG (500 μL of 1M stock solution).

Example 12: Purification of Fusion Protein EndoSH from E. coli

After overnight induction at 37° C. the cultures were pelleted by centrifugation. The pellets were resuspended in 40 mL PBS and incubated on ice with 5 ml lysozyme (10 mg/mL) for 30 minutes. After half an hour 5 ml 10% Triton-X-100 was added and sonicated (10 minutes) on ice. After the sonification the cell debris was removed by centrifugation (10 minutes 8000×g) followed by filtration through a 0.22 μM-pore diameter filter. The soluble extract was loaded onto a HisTrap HP 5 mL column (GE Healthcare). The column was first washed with buffer A (20 mM Tris buffer, 20 mM imidazole, 500 mM NaCl, pH 7.5). Retained protein was eluted with buffer B (20 mM Tris, 500 mM NaCl, 250 mM imidazole, pH 7.5, 10 mL). Fractions were analyzed by SDS-PAGE on polyacrylamide gels (12%). The fractions that contained purified target protein were combined and the buffer was exchanged against 20 mM Tris pH 7.5 and 150 mM NaCl by dialysis performed overnight at 4° C. The purified protein was concentrated to at least 2 mg/mL using an Amicon Ultra-0.5, Ultracel-10 Membrane (Millipore). The product is stored at −80° C. prior to further use.

Example 13: Trimming of Trastuzumab by EndoSH

Trastuzumab (obtained from Epirus biopharma (Utrecht, The Netherlands)) in 25 mM Tris buffer pH 8) (14 mg/mL) was trimmed using a concentration of either 0.1 or 1 w/w % EndoSH. The reactions, 350 μg trastuzumab (25 μL) and the appropriate amount of EndoSH, were stirred at 37° C. and analyzed by MS analysis over time, 1 to 3 hours. Samples were subjected to Fabricator treatment prior to analysis. Full conversions to the trimmed product, which trimmed to the core GlcNAc sugar residue, was observed after 1 hour at 37° C. with 0.1 w/w % EndoSH.

Example 14: Trimming of High-Mannose Trastuzumab by Fusion Protein EndoSH

Trastuzumab having high-mannose glycans (obtained via transient expression in CHO K1 cells in the presence of kifunensine performed by Evitria (Zurich, Switzerland)) (14 mg/mL) in 25 mM Tris buffer pH 8, was trimmed using a concentration of either 0.1 or 1 w/w % EndoSH. The reactions, 350 μg high-mannose trastuzumab (25 μL) and the appropriate amount of EndoSH, were stirred at 37° C. and analyzed by MS analysis over time, 1-3 hours. Samples were subjected to Fabricator treatment prior to analysis. Full conversions to the trimmed product, which trimmed to the core GlcNAc sugar residue, was observed after 3 hours at 37° C. with 1 w/w % EndoSH.

RP-HPLC Analysis of Reduced Monoclonal Antibodies

Prior to RP-HPLC analysis samples were reduced by incubating a solution of 10 μg (modified) IgG for 15 minutes at 37° C. with 10 mM DTT and 100 mM Tris pH 8.0 in a total volume of 50 μL. A solution of 49% ACN, 49% MQ and 2% formic acid (50 μL) was added to the reduced sample. Reverse phase HPLC was performed on a Agilent 1100 HPLC using a ZORBAX Phoroshell 300SB-C8 1×75 5 μm (Agilent Technologies) column run at 1 ml/min at 70° C. using a 16.9 minute linear gradient from 25 to 50% buffer B (with buffer A=90% MQ, 10% ACN, 0.1% TFA and buffer B=90% ACN, 10% MQ, 0.1% TFA).

Mass Spectral Analysis of Monoclonal Antibodies

Prior to mass spectral analysis, IgGs were either treated with DTT, which allows analysis of both light and heavy chain, or treated with Fabricator™ (commercially available from Genovis, Lund, Sweden), which allows analysis of the Fc/2 fragment. For analysis of both light and heavy chain, a solution of 20 μg (modified) IgG was incubated for 5 minutes at 37° C. with 100 mM DTT in a total volume of 4 μL. If present, azide-functionalities are reduced to amines under these conditions. For analysis of the Fc/2 fragment, a solution of 20 μg (modified) IgG was incubated for 1 hour at 37° C. with Fabricator™ (1.25 U/μL) in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) pH 6.6 in a total volume of 10 μL. After reduction or Fabricator-digestion the samples were washed trice with milliQ using an Amicon Ultra-0.5, Ultracel-10 Membrane (Millipore) resulting in a final sample volume of approximately 40 μL. Next, the samples were analyzed by electrospray ionization time-of-flight (ESI-TOF) on a JEOL AccuTOF. Deconvoluted spectra were obtained using Magtran software

Examples 15-19: Preparation of cAC10 Bioconjucate

The preparation of modified biomolecule 13d, is performed according to the procedure as is described below utilizing an endoglycosidase fusion protein EndoS-linker-EndoH (also referred to as EndoSH, identified by SEQ ID NO: 1) for trimming of the glycans of cAC10. In the second step the trimmed cAC10 was converted to the azido-modified mAb 13d through the action of His-TnGalNAcT in the presence of 6-N₃-GalNAc-UDP (commercially available from GlycoHub) as a substrate.

Example 15: Transient Expression and Purification of cAC10

cAC10 was transiently expressed in CHO K1 cells by Evitria (Zurich, Switzerland) at 5 L scale. The supernatant was purified using a XK 26/20 column packed with 50 mL protein A sepharose. In a single run 5 L supernatant was loaded onto the column followed by washing with at least 10 column volumes of 25 mM Tris pH 7.5, 150 mM NaCl. Retained protein was eluted with 0.1 M Glycine pH 2.7. The eluted cAC10 was immediately neutralized with 1.5 M Tris-HCl pH 8.8 and dialyzed against 25 mM Tris pH 8.0. Next the IgG was concentrated to approximately 20 mg/mL using a Vivaspin Turbo 15 ultrafiltration unit (Sartorius) and stored at −80° C. prior to further use.

Example 16: Transient Expression and Purification of his-TnGalNAcT(33-421)

His-TnGalNAcT(33-421) (identified by SEQ ID NO: 2) was transiently expressed in CHO K1 cells by Evitria (Zurich, Switzerland) at 5 L scale. The supernatant was purified using a XK 16/20 column packed with 25 mL Ni sepharose excel (GE Healthcare). Each run approximately 1.5 L supernatant was loaded onto the column followed by washing with at least 10 column volumes of buffer A (20 mM Tris buffer, 5 mM imidazole, 500 mM NaCl, pH 7.5). Retained protein was eluted with buffer B (20 mM Tris, 500 mM NaCl, 500 mM imidazole, pH 7.5). The buffer of the eluted fractions was exchanged to 25 mM Tris pH 8.0 using a HiPrep H26/10 desalting column (GE Healthcare). The purified protein was concentrated to at least 3 mg/mL using a Vivaspin Turbo 4 ultrafiltration unit (Sartorius) and stored at −80° C. prior to further use.

Example 17: Preparation of Trimmed cAC10 by Means of Fusion Protein EndoSH

Glycan trimming of cAC10 (obtained via transient expression in CHO K1 cells performed by Evitria (Zurich, Switzerland) was performed with fusion protein EndoSH. Thus, cAC10 (14.5 mg/mL) was incubated with EndoSH (1 w/w %) in 25 mM Tris pH 7.5 with 150 mM NaCl for approximately 16 hours at 37° C. The trimmed IgG was dialyzed against 3×1 L of 25 mM Tris-HCl pH 8.0. Mass spectral analysis of a fabricator-digested sample showed three peaks of the Fc/2-fragment belonging to one major product (observed mass 24105 Da, approximately 80% of total Fc/2 fragment), corresponding to core GlcNAc(Fuc)-substituted cAC10, and two minor products (observed masses of 23959 and 24233 Da, approximately 5 and 15% of total Fc/2 fragment), corresponding to core GlcNAc-substituted cAC10 and core GlcNAc(Fuc)-substituted cAC10 with C-terminal lysine.

Example 18: Glycosyltransfer of the 6-N₃-GalNAc-UDP to Trimmed cAC10 Under the Action of TnGalNAcT

Substrate 6-N₃-GalNAc-UDP (11d) is used for the preparation of the modified biomolecule cAC10-(6-N₃-GalNAc)₂ 13d, suitable as biomolecule in the context of the invention. Trimmed cAC10 (10 mg/mL), obtained by EndoSH treatment of cAC10 as described above in example 17, was incubated with the substrate 6-N₃-GalNAc-UDP (2.5 mM, commercially available from GlycoHub) and 0.5 mg/mL His-TnGalNAcT(33-421) (5 w/w %) in 10 mM MnCl2 and 25 mM Tris-HCl pH 8.0 at 30° C. After 3 hours the amount of His-TnGalNAcT(33-421) was increased to a final concentration of 1 mg/mL (10 w/w %) and the reaction was incubated overnight at 30° C. Biomolecule 13d was purified from the reaction mixture on a HiTrap MabSelect SuRe 5 ml column (GE Healthcare) using an AKTA purifier-10 (GE Healthcare). The eluted IgG was immediately neutralized with 1.5 M Tris-HCl pH 8.8 and dialyzed against PBS pH 7.4. Next the IgG was concentrated using an Amicon Ultra-0.5, Ultracel-10 Membrane (Millipore) to a concentration of 23.38 mg/mL. Mass spectral analysis of a fabricator-digested sample showed three peaks of the Fc/2-fragment belonging to one major product (observed mass 24333 Da, approximately 80% of total Fc/2 fragment), corresponding to core 6-N₃-GalNAc-GlcNAc(Fuc)-substituted cAC10, and two minor products (observed masses of 24187 and 24461 Da, approximately 5 and 15% of total Fc/2 fragment), corresponding to core 6-N₃-GalNAc-GlcNAc-substituted cAC10 and core 6-N₃-GalNAc-GlcNAc(Fuc)-substituted cAC10 with C-terminal lysine.

Example 19: Conjugation of 13d with 32 to Obtain Conjugate 33

The bioconjugate according to the invention was prepared according to the following scheme, by conjugation of compound 32 to modified biomolecule 13d:

To a solution of cAC(azide)₂ (13d) (287 μL, 6.7 mg, 23.38 mg/ml in PBS pH 7.4) was added compound 32 (90 μL, 10 mM solution in DMF). The reaction was incubated at rt overnight followed by purification on a Superdex200 10/300 GL (GE Healthcare) on an AKTA Purifier-10 (GE Healthcare). Mass spectral analysis of the fabricator-digested sample showed one major product (observed mass 26092 Da, approximately 90% of total Fc/2 fragment), corresponding to the conjugated Fc/2 fragment. RP-HPLC analysis of the reduced sample indicated an average DAR of 1.81.

Sequence identification of fusion protein EndoSH (SEQ. ID NO: 1):    1 MPSIDSLHYL SENSKKEFKE ELSKAGQESQ KVKEILAKAQ QADKQAQELA   51 KMKIPEKIPM KPLHGPLYGG YFRTWHDKTS DPTEKDKVNS MGELPKEVDL  101 AFIFHDWTKD YSLFWKELAT KHVPKLNKQG TRVIRTIPWR FLAGGDNSGI  151 AEDTSKYPNT PEGNKALAKA IVDEYVYKYN LDGLDVDVEH DSIPKVDKKE  201 DTAGVERSIQ VFEEIGKLIG PKGVDKSRLF IMDSTYMADK NPLIERGAPY  251 INLLLVQVYG SQGEKGGWEP VSNRPEKTME ERWQGYSKYI RPEQYMIGFS  301 FYEENAQEGN LWYDINSRKD EDKANGINTD ITGTRAERYA RWQPKTGGVK  351 GGIFSYAIDR DGVAHQPKKY AKQKEFKDAT DNIFHSDYSV SKALKTVMLK  401 DKSYDLIDEK DFPDKALREA VMAQVGTRKG DLERFNGTLR LDNPAIQSLE  451 GLNKFKKLAQ LDLIGLSRIT KLDRSVLPAN MKPGKDTLET VLETYKKDNK  501 EEPATIPPVS LKVSGLTGLK ELDLSGFDRE TLAGLDAATL TSLEKVDISG  551 NKLDLAPGTE NRQIFDTMLS TISNHVGSNE QTVKFDKQKP TGHYPDTYGK  601 TSLRLPVANE KVDLQSQLLF GTVTNQGTLI NSEADYKAYQ NHKIAGRSFV  651 DSNYHYNNFK VSYENYTVKV TDSTLGTTTD KTLATDKEET YKVDFFSPAD  701 KTKAVHTAKV IVGDEKTMMV NLAEGATVIG GSADPVNARK VFDGQLGSET  751 DNISLGWDSK QSIIFKLKED GLIKHWRFFN DSARNPETTN KPIQEASLQI  801 FNIKDYNLDN LLENPNKFDD EKYWITVDTY SAQGERATAF SNTLNNITSK  851 YWRVVFDTKG DRYSSPVVPE LQILGYPLPN ADTIMKTVTT AKELSQQKDK  901 FSQKMLDELK IKEMALETSL NSKIFDVTAI NANAGVLKDC IEKRQLLKKG  951 GGGSGGGGSG GGGSHHHHHH EFGGGGSGGG GSGGGGS APA PVKQGPTSVA 1001 YVEVNNNSML NVGKYTLADG GGNAFDVAVI FAANINYDTG TKTAYLHFNE 1051 NVQRVLDNAV TQIRPLQQQG IKVLLSVLGN HQGAGFANFP SQQAASAFAK 1101 QLSDAVAKYG LDGVDFDDEY AEYGNNGTAQ PNDSSFVHLV TALRANMPDK 1151 IISLYNIGPA ASRLSYGGVD VSDKFDYAWN PYYGTWQVPG IALPKAQLSP 1201 AAVEIGRTSR STVADLARRT VDEGYGVYLT YNLDGGDRTA DVSAFTRELY 1251 GSEAVRTP (linker is underlined, EndoH sequence is denoted in italics) Sequence of His-TnGalNAcT(33-421) (SEQ. ID NO: 2):    1 MGSSHHHHHH SSGLVPRGSH MSPLRTYLYT PLYNATQPTL RNVERLAANW PKKIPSNYIE   61 DSEEYSIKNI SLSNHTTRAS VVHPPSSITE TASKLDKNMT IQDGAFAMIS PTPLLITKLM  121 DSIKSYVTTE DGVKKAEAVV TLPLCDSMPP DLGPITLNKT ELELEWVEKK FPEVEWGGRY  181 SPPNCTARHR VAIIVPYRDR QQHLAIFLNH MHPFLMKQQI EYGIFIVEQE GNKDFNRAKL  241 MNVGFVESQK LVAEGWQCFV FHDIDLLPLD TRNLYSCPRQ PRHMSASIDK LHFKLPYEDI  301 FGGVSAMTLE QFTRVNGFSN KYWGWGGEDD DMSYRLKKIN YHIARYKMSI ARYAMLDHKK  361 STPNPKRYQL LSQTSKTFQK DGLSTLEYEL VQVVQYHLYT HILVNIDERS 

1. A compound comprising a target molecule D covalently connected to a reactive group Q¹ via a linker represented by the following formula:

wherein: BM is a branching moiety; E is a capping group; SG is a sulfamide group according to formula (1); b is independently 0 or 1; c is 0 or 1; d is 0 or 1; e is 0 or 1; f is an integer in the range of 1 to 10; g is 0 or 1; i is 0 or 1; k is 0 or 1; l is 0 or 1; Sp¹ is a spacer moiety; Sp² is a spacer moiety; Sp³ is a spacer moiety; Sp⁴ is a spacer moiety; Sp⁵ is a spacer moiety; Sp⁶ is a spacer moiety; Z¹ is a connecting group; Z² is a connecting group, wherein one of the bonds labelled with * is connected to reactive group Q¹ and one of the bonds labelled with * is connected to target molecule D, and wherein the sulfamide group SG is represented by formula (1):

wherein a is 0 or 1; and R¹ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C₁-C₂₄ alkyl groups, C₃-C₂₄ cycloalkyl groups, C₂-C₂₄ (hetero)aryl groups, C₃-C₂₄ alkyl(hetero)aryl groups and C₃-C₂₄ (hetero)arylalkyl groups, wherein the C₁-C₂₄ alkyl groups, C₃-C₂₄ cycloalkyl groups, C₂-C₂₄ (hetero)aryl groups, C₃-C₂₄ alkyl(hetero)aryl groups and C₃-C₂₄ (hetero)arylalkyl groups are optionally substituted and optionally interrupted by one or more heteroatoms selected from O, S and NR³ wherein R³ is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C₁-C₄ alkyl groups, or R¹ is a further target molecule D, wherein the target molecule is optionally connected to N via a spacer moiety, and wherein one of the bonds labelled with * is connected to the branching moiety, optionally via spacer Sp⁵, and the other bond labelled with * to a capping group E, optionally via spacer Sp⁶.
 2. The compound according to claim 1, wherein the capping moiety E is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₂₄ alkyl groups, C₃-C₂₄ cycloalkyl groups, C₂-C₂₄ (hetero)aryl groups, C₃-C₂₄ alkyl(hetero)aryl groups, C₃-C₂₄ (hetero)arylalkyl groups, wherein the C₁-C₂₄ alkyl groups, C₃-C₂₄ cycloalkyl groups, C₂-C₂₄ (hetero)aryl groups, C₃-C₂₄ alkyl(hetero)aryl groups and C₃-C₂₄ (hetero)arylalkyl groups are optionally substituted and optionally interrupted by one or more heteroatoms selected from O, S and NR³ wherein R³ is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C₁-C₄ alkyl groups, or E is a further target moiety D.
 3. The compound according to claim 2, wherein capping moiety E is selected from a polyethylene glycol group represented by —(CH₂CH₂O)_(s)CH₃, wherein s is an integer in the range of 1-10, a C₁-C₂₄ alkyl group, C₂-C₂₄ (hetero)aryl group or a C₃-C₂₄ alkyl(hetero)aryl group,
 4. The compound according to claim 3, wherein capping moiety E is a polyethylene glycol group represented by —(CH₂CH₂O)_(s)CH₃, wherein s is an integer in the range of 2-4, or a benzyl group.
 5. The compound according to claim 1, wherein branching moiety BM is selected from a carbon atom, a nitrogen atom, a phosphorus atom, an aromatic ring, a (hetero)cycle or a polycyclic moiety.
 6. The compound according to claim 1, wherein Sp¹, Sp², Sp³ and Sp⁴, if present, are independently selected from the group consisting of linear or branched C₁-C₂₀ alkylene groups, the alkylene groups being optionally substituted and optionally interrupted by one or more heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of O, S and NR³, wherein R³ is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C₁-C₄ alkyl groups, and wherein Q¹ is according to formula (9a), (9q), (9n), (9o) or (9p):

wherein U is O or NR⁹, and R⁹ is hydrogen, a linear or branched C₁-C₁₂ alkyl group or a C₄-C₁₂ (hetero)aryl group.
 7. A compound comprising a target molecule D covalently connected to a biomolecule B via a linker represented by the following formula:

wherein: BM is a branching moiety; E is a capping group; SG is a sulfamide group according to formula (1); b is independently 0 or 1; c is 0 or 1; d is 0 or 1; e is 0 or 1; f is an integer in the range of 1 to 10; g is 0 or 1; i is 0 or 1; k is 0 or 1; l is 0 or 1; Sp¹ is a spacer moiety; Sp² is a spacer moiety; Sp³ is a spacer moiety; Sp⁴ is a spacer moiety; Sp⁵ is a spacer moiety; Sp⁶ is a spacer moiety; Z¹ is a connecting group; Z² is a connecting group, wherein one of the bonds labelled with * is connected to biomolecule B and one of the bonds labelled with * is connected to target molecule D, and wherein the sulfamide group SG is represented by formula (1):

wherein a is 0 or 1; and R¹ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C₁-C₂₄ alkyl groups, C₃-C₂₄ cycloalkyl groups, C₂-C₂₄ (hetero)aryl groups, C₃-C₂₄ alkyl(hetero)aryl groups and C₃-C₂₄ (hetero)arylalkyl groups, wherein the C₁-C₂₄ alkyl groups, C₃-C₂₄ cycloalkyl groups, C₂-C₂₄ (hetero)aryl groups, C₃-C₂₄ alkyl(hetero)aryl groups and C₃-C₂₄ (hetero)arylalkyl groups are optionally substituted and optionally interrupted by one or more heteroatoms selected from O, S and NR³ wherein R³ is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C₁-C₄ alkyl groups, or R¹ is a further target molecule D, wherein the target molecule is optionally connected to N via a spacer moiety, and wherein one of the bonds labelled with * is connected to the branching moiety, optionally via spacer Sp⁵, and the other bond labelled with * to a capping group E, optionally via spacer Sp⁶.
 8. The compound according to claim 7, wherein the capping moiety E is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₂₄ alkyl groups, C₃-C₂₄ cycloalkyl groups, C₂-C₂₄ (hetero)aryl groups, C₃-C₂₄ alkyl(hetero)aryl groups, C₃-C₂₄ (hetero)arylalkyl groups, wherein the C₁-C₂₄ alkyl groups, C₃-C₂₄ cycloalkyl groups, C₂-C₂₄ (hetero)aryl groups, C₃-C₂₄ alkyl(hetero)aryl groups and C₃-C₂₄ (hetero)arylalkyl groups are optionally substituted and optionally interrupted by one or more heteroatoms selected from O, S and NR³ wherein R³ is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C₁-C₄ alkyl groups, or E is a further target moiety D.
 9. The compound according to claim 7, wherein branching moiety BM is selected from a carbon atom, a nitrogen atom, a phosphorus atom, an aromatic ring, a (hetero)cycle or a polycyclic moiety.
 10. A process for the preparation of a bioconjugate, comprising reacting a reactive group Q¹ of the compound according to claim 1 with a functional group F¹ of a biomolecule (B).
 11. The process according to claim 9, wherein the reaction is a cycloaddition or a Michael reaction.
 12. The process according to claim 9, wherein the reaction is a Diels-Alder reaction or a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition.
 13. A method for: (a) improving conjugation efficiency in the preparation of the bioconjugate, (b) reducing aggregation during the preparation of the bioconjugate and/or of the bioconjugate, (c) increasing stability of the bioconjugate, and/or (d) increasing therapeutic index of the bioconjugate, the method comprising conjugating a biomolecule (B) to a linker represented by the following formula:

wherein: BM is a branching moiety; E is a capping group; SG is a sulfamide group according to formula (1); b is independently 0 or 1; c is 0 or 1; d is 0 or 1; e is 0 or 1; f is an integer in the range of 1 to 10; g is 0 or 1; i is 0 or 1; k is 0 or 1; l is 0 or 1; Sp¹ is a spacer moiety; Sp² is a spacer moiety; Sp³ is a spacer moiety; Sp⁴ is a spacer moiety; Sp⁵ is a spacer moiety; Sp⁶ is a spacer moiety; Z¹ is a connecting group; Z² is a connecting group, wherein one of the bonds labelled with * is connected to biomolecule B and one of the bonds labelled with * is connected to target molecule D, and wherein the sulfamide group SG is represented by formula (1):

wherein a is 0 or 1; and R¹ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C₁-C₂₄ alkyl groups, C₃-C₂₄ cycloalkyl groups, C₂-C₂₄ (hetero)aryl groups, C₃-C₂₄ alkyl(hetero)aryl groups and C₃-C₂₄ (hetero)arylalkyl groups, wherein the C₁-C₂₄ alkyl groups, C₃-C₂₄ cycloalkyl groups, C₂-C₂₄ (hetero)aryl groups, C₃-C₂₄ alkyl(hetero)aryl groups and C₃-C₂₄ (hetero)arylalkyl groups are optionally substituted and optionally interrupted by one or more heteroatoms selected from O, S and NR³ wherein R³ is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C₁-C₄ alkyl groups, or R¹ is a further target molecule D, wherein the target molecule is optionally connected to N via a spacer moiety, and wherein one of the bonds labelled with * is connected to the branching moiety, optionally via spacer Sp⁵, and the other bond labelled with * to a capping group E, optionally via spacer Sp⁶.
 14. A method of treating a subject comprising, administering to the subject a compound according to claim
 1. 15. The method according to claim 14, for treatment of cancer. 